tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82887779635392325292017-07-30T01:08:05.867-07:00Annie's Mission BlogAnniejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935359988326301276noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288777963539232529.post-13809477731057115852017-07-08T19:58:00.000-07:002017-07-08T19:58:45.026-07:00Week 81: Signing off :')Hello everyone!<br /><div><br /></div><div>Well, it's been quite a journey hasn't it? I'm not even sure what to say right now. I have so many feelings and emotions running through my mind and heart.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>I think I would like to start by thanking you all. It has meant so much to have each of your support and love and prayers. I can't tell you how much I have needed them in this great work. I am so grateful for all that you have done for me to help me during my mission. Thank you for everything.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>I also would just like to leave you with my testimony. This is the Lord's church. I know He is at the head, and guides and directs us. It was a true blessing this weekend to hear the words of the true and living prophet, Thomas S. Monson, and his apostles. I know that these men have been called and ordained of God. I sustain them with all of my heart.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. There is power in reading that book. There is peace and counsel to be found in it's pages. It can change us if we let it. It's true, and all are invited to take Moroni's promise, and read it for ourselves! I have taken that promise, and I know it's true.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Most of all, I know that Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer lives. He loves us. He knows us perfectly, and is always walking with us, in our best times and worst times. He atoned for our sins, and felt our weaknesses, pains, sadnesses, and everything else.&nbsp; I love Him, and it has been the greatest joy of my life to wear His name over my heart for 18 months. It has been an honor to serve Him, and I plan to do so for the rest of my life.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>This gospel is real. It's true I am so changed from who I was, and I will forever be grateful.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>I love you all so much. Thank you again, and I'll see you all soon.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>All my love, Hermana Wood&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>"There will be times when you think you cannot continue on. Trust the Savior and His love."</div><div><br /></div><div>"The more we follow Christ, the more we will feel His love and direction."</div>Anniejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935359988326301276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288777963539232529.post-54483128914934838242017-07-08T19:55:00.001-07:002017-07-08T19:55:13.353-07:00Week 80: The day of miracles has not ceasedHello everyone!<br /><div><br /></div><div>If ever there were to be a motto of my mission, I think it would be something along the lines of, "Miracles happen everyday, we just have to look for them." I feel like every week, I say that we see miracles. But it's still so true! I saw so many miracles, and I know that when we ask Heavenly Father to show us his hand, he will expand our vision to see how he is guiding and directing us.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>This week we had a pass off lesson with the Elders in San Clemente. We passed off one investigator who is a 14 year old stuck in a 75 year-old's body. He's super funny. The lesson went well, and he is totally fine with the Elders coming to teach him rather than us. We are also totally fine with the Elders going over rather than us, but that being said, he was pretty funny to talk to.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh my goodness, one of the biggest miracles I have ever seen on my mission happened this week. It's a series of multiple miracles though. Monday, we went over to see our investigators, we'll call them the MG family. We have lessons with them every Monday night. We went over last Monday, and started teaching, and everything felt kind of weird. I had no clue why. But the lesson we had planned to teach was not what they needed to hear. Then Hna. Laboriel started talking about eternal families, and the entire spirit in the room changed. Suddenly, they were all paying attention, and there seemed to be a new peace that filled the room. We talked about families, and I was able to testify of the love that God has for them and that he has a plan for them as a family. I know he loves them, because I have been able to feel part of that love. It was beautiful. Afterwards, we felt prompted to invite them to do a church tour, and we scheduled one for the very next day, which was amazing, because they work a lot. But they were willing to sacrifice a little, and come to a church tour.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Fast-forward to Tuesday. We met them at the church building, and started the tour with a prayer. We knew that this church tour was super important, because the dad of the family had called us earlier that afternoon, and told us that they were considering getting a divorce. We wanted to help in any way we could, so we had been praying to know what to say, and what to do for this family. So we went on the tour, and we showed them the Primary room where we sang, "Families can be Together Forever". The Spirit was so strong. We went to the different rooms, explaining each one. We came to the Relief Society room, and we talked a little bit about the temple, and how we can be together as families, we asked them if they wanted to be a family forever, and they all responded with yes! Then the parents hugged, and all of the three kids came over to them and they all stood there hugging, and we all stood there crying. It is hands down one of the most beautiful moments I've ever seen. Plus, the member we brought with us bore powerful testimony of the power of the gospel and eternal families. We continued to the chapel, and we talked about the priesthood, and why it's important. We showed them the sacrament trays, and explained the ordinance. We then closed with "Come Unto Jesus" and asked the mom to say the prayer. It was so amazing.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Wednesday we went over to their house, because the mom was still kind of struggling. We were able to help her, and invite her to the ward activity on Thursday. It was really neat to be part of such an inspired lesson. I know that God directs this work, because there is no way that we were the only ones teaching in that lesson.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Thursday, they came to the ward pioneer activity on the church! They had a lot of fun and were able to talk to the Bishop about some things.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Yesterday, we went over to the families house before church, to remind them to come. We got there, and they needed help doing some things around the house, so we helped where we could. The mom asked us how we knew that they weren't working that day and that they would be home... The Spirit. :) That was cool.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Then they came to church for the very first time. I cannot explain how I felt when I saw them walk into the church building. It was so amazing. I felt this huge amount of love for them, and a huge amount of love from my Heavenly Father. For a moment, I saw in part how much Heavenly Father cares about us and loves us. It was an amazing tender mercy from the Lord. I will never forget that experience. Also, the three kids, LOVED church, and I'm sure that they will be back.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>We got to walk in the Swallow's Day parade again in San Juan Capistrano, which I was able to do last year as well. It was super fun! I also got super sunburned... :) The Women's General Session was AMAZING. I loved it so much. We have such inspired leaders. I'm so grateful that I got to hear from them, and am so excited to listen to their words this coming week!&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>There were multiple moments this week when I had the thought, "This is what missionary work is about." This is the work of salvation. We are here to bring souls to Jesus Christ. This is what helps people, this is what brings true joy. I don't know what will happen with this family after I am gone, but I hope that they will one day end up together as a family in the temple. Simply because that is the purpose of this life. I feel so grateful, and so blessed to have been here for these 18 months.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>&nbsp;I think it's so funny how we call it a sacrifice that we are giving to the Lord, but he gives us so much in return. I will always remember the miracles of my mission. There is a quote from Elder Holland that has helped me throughout my mission that I want to share. It says:</div><div><br /></div><div>"<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">"You only get one chance to serve a mission; it is your responsibility, your duty, to use it to the fullest; to give every last ounce of energy until you collapse in exhaustion at the end of it. All the hardships, all the tears, all the hard work will be looked back upon as the best thing you've ever done, not because you enjoyed it, not because you baptized everyone, but because you gave everything you had, even when you didn't think you could, and especially when you didn't want to. Live your mission to your fullest, work harder than you've ever worked before. Let people know that this is the most important thing in the world to you... If you do not run until you have nothing left to give, and then keep going anyway; cry and pray and work and sweat and plead until you are so drained that all you can do is turn to the Lord; if you don't do this, then these people will not come to this joy because of you - their failure to come to Christ will be partially upon your head. Come out of your mission proud of what you've done, and this experience will bless the rest of your life."</span></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Enough said. :)&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>I love you all! Thank you for everything you do. Thank you for your prayers and your faith on my behalf. I know that I couldn't have done this without you.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>"With God, nothing shall be impossible."</div><div><br /></div><div>"God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love, and of a sound mind."</div><div><div class="a6S bar" dir="ltr" style="left: 456px; opacity: 0.01; top: 1388.64px;"><div aria-label="Download attachment image.png" class="T-I J-J5-Ji aQv T-I-ax7 L3 a5q" data-tooltip-class="a1V" data-tooltip="Download" id=":1rq" role="button" tabindex="0"><div class="aSK J-J5-Ji aYr"></div></div><div aria-label="Save attachment to Drive image.png" class="T-I J-J5-Ji aQv T-I-ax7 L3 a5q" data-tooltip-class="a1V" data-tooltip="Save to Drive" id=":1rr" role="button" tabindex="0"><div class="wtScjd J-J5-Ji aYr aQu"><div class="T-aT4" style="display: none;"><div></div><div class="T-aT4-JX"></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I'll see y'all soon! I love you!</div><div><br /></div><div>Much love, Hermana Wood&nbsp;</div>Anniejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935359988326301276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288777963539232529.post-36432490703045500392017-07-08T19:53:00.001-07:002017-07-08T19:53:50.784-07:00Week 79: 18 months later... :)Oh my goodness. It can't believe that it's here. This past week I hit 18 months. That was a super weird realization. But it's all good, cause I still have two weeks to do this great work. :)<br /><div><br /></div><div>This week was really good!&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>We went to the temple, and it was amazing! Just what I needed this week. It was so good to be there again after not going for 3 months. If there's one perk to being home, it's that I can go to the temple as often as I would like. It was really good, and it was fun, cause we got to go with our whole zone! Which is only two districts and 19 people, so it's not super hard. We had a good time.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>I had my final interview with President this week. It was good/weird. We just talked about the things that I needed to do when I got home, and my plan, which is a 6 week program for missionaries to help them prepare to go home. It was good. I love President.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>We were able to see Socorro again! She's doing good, but we're going to have to push back her baptism a few weeks. She still has a desire to be baptized though, so we will keep working with her to get her there. Her kids and family is totally supportive of her getting baptized, which is a huge blessing. I'm so excited for her. :)&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Thursday I hit 18 months! It was crazy weird. We also had a zone conference with Elder Tad R. Callister, the Sunday School General President! It was SO GOOD! He and his wife are amazing. We learned so much about everything. They talked a lot about the atonement and how important it is in our lives. They also focused on the doctrine of Christ, (faith, repentance, baptism, gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.) When we teach people, we need to be focusing on the steps that will help them achieve exaltation, and allow them to live with their families forever. Eternal families is the goal, and we help people get there by teaching as Christ taught, and teaching what Christ taught. We learned about the importance of opening your mouth and preaching by the way. Then we talked about being consecrated missionaries. It was really cool, and a wonderful experience. I feel so blessed to have been here for it. :) Over all, he pretty much summed up his book "The Infinite Atonement" and his talk, "Becoming a Consecrated Missionary" What a neat experience it was .&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>We had two baptisms in our ward on Saturday! It was a mother and son, and it was so wonderful. I loved being there, and seeing them make covenants with our Heavenly Father. Every time I see someone step into the baptismal font, it makes me so happy, because I know how much joy they will have because of the gospel. It was so cool. :) Then we got to go and help with a Persian new year festival! It was so crazy. There were over 300 people in the Newport Beach Stake Center. It was so awesome! We were able to perform some musical numbers, and help people feel the Spirit that is in the church, and we also had a lot of fun! It was a super cool experience. We met some Elders from the California Carlsbad Mission, who had been switched from English work to Farsi work. I was suddenly very grateful that they had only asked me to learn Spanish. But the Lord qualifies those whom he calls, and I'm sure they will do a great job. :)&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyways, that's about it for me! I'm doing really well, and I'm excited for this coming week and the miracles that are going to happen. I am more thoroughly convinced of daily miracles now than I have ever been in my entire life. They are there every singe day if we will look for them. :)&nbsp;</div><div><div class="a6S bar" dir="ltr" style="opacity: 0.01;"><div aria-label="Download attachment image.png" class="T-I J-J5-Ji aQv T-I-ax7 L3 a5q" data-tooltip-class="a1V" id=":1r5" role="button" tabindex="0" title="Download"><div class="aSK J-J5-Ji aYr"></div></div><div aria-label="Save attachment to Drive image.png" class="T-I J-J5-Ji aQv T-I-ax7 L3 a5q" data-tooltip-class="a1V" id=":1r6" role="button" tabindex="0" title="Save to Drive"><div class="wtScjd aQu J-J5-Ji aYr"><div class="T-aT4"><div></div><div class="T-aT4-JX"></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div><div>"Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good."</div><div><br /></div><div>"Kindness is powerful."</div><div><br /></div><div>I love these quotes, and I think they kind of speak for themselves. I know that we can always trust more in Heavenly Father and his promises, and we can always strive to be kinder to one another, and become more like our Savior.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>I love you all so much! Please let me know if I can help with anything! Have an amazing week!&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Love, Hermana Wood :)&nbsp;</div>Anniejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935359988326301276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288777963539232529.post-17176913580161637852017-07-08T19:52:00.000-07:002017-07-08T19:52:15.415-07:00Week 78: The LastsHola!<br /><div><br /></div><div>This week was good! I don't have a ton of time, so this will be pretty short... Sorry!&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>We found a super awesome less-active family this week. They were not super friendly at the beginning, but after a little while talking to them, they warmed up to us. They are now our friends, and we're going to work on helping them come back to church! I'm excited. I always get really excited at the thought of people making and keeping covenants and coming back to the truth. It's so amazing to see. There is nothing else that can bring more happiness into our lives than coming to know our Savior, and making sacred covenants with Heavenly Father and keeping them. I love it.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>A member in our ward is hopefully bringing his nieces to church next Sunday, and he wants them to take the lessons! We're hoping that we will be able to teach them. I love when members do missionary work!&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>This week I had my last zone training meeting... It seems that I have started my round of lasts. Tomorrow is my last interview, my last time at the temple here, the last, the last, the last. It's super surreal. I never thought I would get to this point of my mission. It's super weird. At the same time, it still doesn't feel real. I never anticipated my mission would go by so fast, and I never anticipated it to be this hard to leave. But the Lord has a time and a place for everything. That's where faith comes in. I know he's watching out for me.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>This week we have a general authority coming to our mission! We're having a special zone conference so that we can all hear his wisdom. I am so excited!!! I will tell you all about it next Monday. :D Also, I get to go to the temple tomorrow!! I'm so excited. :) The temple is my favorite place.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>We had some really good lessons this week. We saw most of our investigators, and are working on finding those who are truly progressing and figuring out why others aren't progressing. I love the people that I am teaching. They are all so nice, and so loving. It's amazing to work with them. It's also crazy to me how the Lord is preparing people every day, in everyone's lives for the gospel. There are people that we know right now, who we are influencing in some way to help them be ready for the gospel message. Isn't that cool? Heavenly Father is doing his part, so we also must do our part and be ready and willing when he needs us to act. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm out of time, but I want to leave you with my love, and my testimony of this work. There is nothing better. I heard a quote once that said, "Any problem can be solved with missionary work." I think it's true. I love missionary work. It's not always easy, but it is always absolutely worth it. :)&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="a6S bar" dir="ltr" style="left: 456px; opacity: 0.01; top: 640px;"><div aria-disabled="false" aria-label="Download attachment image.png" class="T-I J-J5-Ji aQv T-I-ax7 L3 a5q" data-tooltip-class="a1V" data-tooltip="Download" id=":1q5" role="button" tabindex="0"><div class="aSK J-J5-Ji aYr"></div></div><div aria-hidden="false" aria-label="Save attachment to Drive image.png" class="T-I J-J5-Ji aQv T-I-ax7 L3 a5q" data-tooltip-class="a1V" data-tooltip="Save to Drive" id=":1q6" role="button" tabindex="0"><div class="wtScjd J-J5-Ji aYr aQu"><div class="T-aT4" style="display: none;"><div></div><div class="T-aT4-JX"></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>I've been learning a lot about faith recently, and what faith really means. It's so interesting to me that the scriptures talk about how we walk by faith, not sight, and if we see it, why would there be any need for faith? I love that the first principle of the gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. When we have faith, we can overcome just about any obstacle that we might have. It might not go away, bad things will still happen, but faith in God will help us to understand that he has a vision much larger than we do. There is a purpose for everything.&nbsp;</div><div><div class="a6S bar" dir="ltr" style="opacity: 0.01;"><div aria-label="Download attachment image.png" class="T-I J-J5-Ji aQv T-I-ax7 L3 a5q" data-tooltip-class="a1V" id=":1qn" role="button" tabindex="0" title="Download"><div class="aSK J-J5-Ji aYr"></div></div><div aria-label="Save attachment to Drive image.png" class="T-I J-J5-Ji aQv T-I-ax7 L3 a5q" data-tooltip-class="a1V" id=":1qo" role="button" tabindex="0" title="Save to Drive"><div class="wtScjd aQu J-J5-Ji aYr"><div class="T-aT4"><div></div><div class="T-aT4-JX"></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I've also been working a lot on my prayers. I'm working more on saying sincere prayers, rather than just praying to pray. It's made a difference. I feel a closer connection to Heavenly Father, and I feel like my prayers mean something to me. It's been a neat experience, and I plan on continuing to make my prayers more meaningful.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>I love you all! I hope you have a wonderful week!&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Much love, Hermana Wood :)&nbsp;</div>Anniejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935359988326301276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288777963539232529.post-8747362542279296872017-07-08T19:50:00.002-07:002017-07-08T19:50:31.706-07:00Week 77: Faith unto RepentanceHello Everyone!<br /><div><br /></div><div>I hope you all had an amazing week. Wow, It's March! In my head I know that time is always the same, but it feels like it is moving so fast. I feel like I'm in the last leg of a marathon, and just sprinting my way to the end. It makes my head spin when I think about it too much. :)&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>We're all good here on the California end! We have been having a ton of fun doing the Lord's work. It's a little funny, because sometimes we'll look at the day we have planned, then realize that we don't have any time for meals, because we have so many appointments.... So we'll put dinner as a backup in case someone's lesson falls through. It is a great blessing though.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>This week was wonderful. Last Sunday, a less-active member in our ward brought a friend to church. We introduced ourselves, and asked if she would be interested at all in having us come by. She said yes! So we set up an appointment for Tuesday. On Tuesday we went, and we taught the first half of the Restoration. It was an amazing lesson. The Spirit was so strong. It was almost palpable. Socorro (the investigator) is so prepared for the gospel. Every time we brought up a new point, it seemed to just click in her brain that it was true. She agreed with everything we had to say. She even bore her testimony to us about prayer. It was amazing. At the end of the lesson, I invited her to be baptized, and she said that she has been wanting to be baptized in a church, and a lot of her friends had been inviting her, but she hadn't gone to any, until she decided to come to ours. She talked about how to her, it wasn't a coincidence that we were there. So wonderful. We asked if she would like to be baptized on March 24th, or March 31st, and she chose the 24th!!! Oh my goodness, I wish I could describe how amazing it was to see her faith. She is so willing. We set up a return appointment, and went over the next day to finish the Restoration. We taught, and she talked about how she had been feeling that her baptismal date was really soon, but then she told us that if it was God's will, then it was time. OH MY GOODNESS!!! When does that happen? She's so cool! So we are working with her to be baptized on March 24th. :) She couldn't come to church yesterday, because she had to go to Mexico, but we will be seeing her this next week, and have been in contact. I'm so excited for her. :)&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>We had a super funny moment in the middle of our first lesson with Socorro. The woman who owned the house started cooking jalepenos in the kitchen right next to where we were. About 3 minutes later, we all randomly start coughing because of the spice that is being pulled into our lungs... We all died for a good five minutes, opened all the windows and doors, and just tried to breathe. Then it subsided slightly, and we were able to bring the Spirit back. But it was so funny.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>We had an amazing zone conference on Wednesday. We talked all about the basics of the Gospel, and what we are teaching. So we are now putting a huge focus on helping our investigators do the simple things like reading the Book of Mormon, praying, and going to church. It's been really neat to just start again with the little things that make up the big things. Like it says in Alma, "6 Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise." It's by doing the little things that we bring about the great things. How do we gain a testimony? It's not like a huge tree will randomly fall from the sky, and plant itself in your heart. It's piece by piece, step by step. If we want a big testimony, we have to first do the little things to plant and nourish it. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>I had the opportunity to sing again in the temple music devotional last night. Kevin and Shelley came! It was so wonderful to see them again. I sang a song called, "I Heard Him Come", and it was a wonderful experience. I love to sing, and I am so grateful for the opportunities that I have to do so. I had Hermana Laboriel translate part of it for me, so I sang a verse and a chorus in Spanish, which was a lot of fun. :) I'll try to include a recording of it.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Haha, I've been noticing recently that the more I learn Spanish, the worse my English gets. I probably won't be able to communicate in either language by the time I go home... ;) Haha, it's been a lot of fun. I love being in a trio. My companions are way too much fun. I absolutely love being with them. We have definitely felt a lot of joy the past few weeks.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>I love being here, I love serving the Lord. I am doing absolutely everything I can to give the Lord everything I am. I'm so happy that I have this time to serve the Lord, and I will be very sad when this time comes to a close. But that day is not today, so I'm not going to worry about it too much. It's so interesting to me, because when I came on my mission, I never anticipated feeling the way I do now. I feel like my heart breaks a little more with everyday that passes. I love these people, and all of the people I have served so much, with all of my heart. Every few hours or so I just think about how much I don't want to leave. Then I get back to work and choose not to worry about it, because I will cherish every moment I have to wear the Lord's name on my heart.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>I love you all so much. Thank you for all that you do. :) If you want to send a last letter before I go home, I would love to get one. I hope you all have a spectacular week, and that the Lord will watch over and bless you. I love you!&nbsp;</div><div><div class="a6S bar" dir="ltr" style="opacity: 0.01;"><div aria-label="Download attachment image.png" class="T-I J-J5-Ji aQv T-I-ax7 L3 a5q" data-tooltip-class="a1V" id=":1pl" role="button" tabindex="0" title="Download"><div class="aSK J-J5-Ji aYr"></div></div><div aria-label="Save attachment to Drive image.png" class="T-I J-J5-Ji aQv T-I-ax7 L3 a5q" data-tooltip-class="a1V" id=":1pm" role="button" tabindex="0" title="Save to Drive"><div class="wtScjd aQu J-J5-Ji aYr"><div class="T-aT4"><div></div><div class="T-aT4-JX"></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Much love, Hermana Wood :)&nbsp;</div>Anniejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935359988326301276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288777963539232529.post-50750386752032827222017-07-08T19:48:00.001-07:002017-07-08T19:48:47.481-07:00Week 76: Sometimes, we just need to walk by faithHello Everybody!!!!!<br /><div><br /></div><div>Oh my goodness, que semana. (What a week.) :) It was so good! So many miracles happened this week.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Spanish word of the day: chevere - cool &nbsp;( I like chevere better. It sounds chevere. :) )</div><div><br /></div><div>There's a scripture that goes along with the thought of miracles in Moroni,&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><div>“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased because Christ hath ascended into heaven? … Has the day of miracles ceased?” (Moro. 7:27, 35.)</div><div><br /></div><div>“I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men. … [nor will they], so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved.” (Moro. 7:29, 36.)</div></div><div><br /></div><div>I have seen too many miracles to doubt that scripture. I know that God is actively, and intimately involved in every second of every day of our lives. It's amazing to have that kind of love, and that kind of support with us all the time. Sometimes I think I forget Christ's promise in John that says,&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." Our God is a god of miracles, and I think one of the greatest miracles that we can experience is that of never being alone, and being understood by one far greater than ourselves.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Being moved into Spanish has really taught me this principle. I realized the other day that there is no way that I could have picked up this language as fast as I have without the constant help of the Holy Ghost. What also baffles me is the fact that I was being guided to this long before I ever wanted to serve a mission, when I decided to take Spanish when I was in Junior High. God is all powerful, all knowing, and all loving. He knows what is best for us.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>This week we saw some wonderful blessings. One of which is having Hermana Brown with us. She brings with her this amazing spirit of diligence and joy with her. She has wonderful ideas and has been a huge blessing to me. I feel so blessed to be her companion. I'm also super grateful for Hermana Laboriel. She shows me time and time again the kind of missionary I want to be. This week has been full of love and laughter.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>We were able to see our investigator Marcela this week. We started teaching her two daughters as well. She is very sweet, and very open to the gospel. This week we taught about the Restoration, and invited her to be baptized. She said yes, but she is praying for a date. We have been working really hard to remind people of our purpose, and to be bold, while showing them love. It has been really cool to see.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>On Thursday we had a ward missionary activity, so the members could get to know us, and we could get to know them. It was so so fun. I absolutely love this ward. We have so many amazing people here. I love them with all that I am. It's so funny, because this happens every time I move wards, at the beginning, my heart is still with my previous ward, but after a few days of serving them, I realize that I have enough room in my heart for all of them. I'm not sure how it works, but love only grows as you give it away.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>We tried to stop by some less-actives on Saturday night, but they weren't home, so we went to a potential's house who lives below them. She invited us in, and we were able to share the beginning of the Restoration, and bear testimony of eternal families. It was a wonderful lesson. By the end of our lesson, she asked when we could come back! So we are going to see her again this week, and are excited to work with her.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Haha, yesterday we were texting one of our investigators to invite him to church, and he responded with, "I would like to go to church, but I am drunk." We kind of laughed a little bit, then invited him to the ARP class later that night, when he was feeling a little bit better. Then, 20 minutes into sacrament meeting, he shows up!! I know it's not funny, but we were laughing so hard, because he had driven himself to church. I think Heavenly Father definitely protected him. But he came, and he enjoyed it. He was a little out of sorts, but hopefully he'll be able to come nest week and soberly enjoy the sacrament services.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Wow. I wish you all could just watch my life unfold every week, because it's really hard to type it all out. :) I'm also sorry this is super long... But this week was really good, and I have definitely seen the hand of God in my life. Never forget that I love you, and God loves you. I pray for you often, and hope that life is treating you well. :D&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you for all that you do! Please let me know if I can help in anyway. I love you all!!!! Have an amazing week!&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Con mucho amor,&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Hermana Wood :)&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>P.S. I really am sorry this is so long, please don't feel obligated to read it if you don't have time. :D&nbsp;</div>Anniejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935359988326301276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288777963539232529.post-81363787343292439892017-07-08T19:47:00.001-07:002017-07-08T19:47:02.976-07:00Week 75: And then there were three...BUENOS DIAS!!!!<br /><div><br /></div><div>Oh my goodness, I'm so happy. I have no idea how to express just how happy I am by way of typing, but I am so excited for this transfer. Seriously, I am like bursting with joy, and I am so ecstatic. :D&nbsp;<div><br /></div><div>So this week was good! We picked up 2 new investigators, which makes 16 for the transfer, which is so so cool. Some are progressing, and others are not, but it has been such a privilege to invite them all to come closer to Christ. One is Erica, a former investigator who is super open to the gospel. The problem is she's super busy, (which is similar to everyone else in our ward...) but we will hopefully be able to see her at our return appointment this week. She is super sweet, and I'm super excited to work with her.</div><div><br /></div><div>&nbsp;We were able to see a lot of people last week. One of my favorite people is Gina, who is super catholic, but a lot of fun. It was amazing! When we went over, she told us about her friend who had come over, and asked her why she had a copy of the Book of Mormon. He got a little upset, and started talking about how it wasn't the Bible and all sorts of other stuff. Then, she proceeded to teach him about the Book of Mormon, how we had never told her it was the bible, and that it was another testament of Jesus Christ, and that it helped us see God's love for his children, because he gave everyone his word. It was so cool. He then asked her if she was going to go to church with us, and she said she didn't know yet. I'm so excited for her. She's amazing.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>We happen to be teaching a bunch of old women, and they are super funny. We have a 75 year old, a 72 year old, and an 82 year old. :) They are so fun to visit.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Friday was crazy! We went out in the morning after studies for like an hour and a half to see some people, then returned to our apartment for weekly planning. After about an hour, we got a mission-wide text telling all of the missionaries to return to their apartments, because all of Orange County was experiencing terrible storms. In Spanish it's tormentos, which I like a lot. :) So we were confined to our apartment for the rest of the day. We did a lot of stufff. We made some awesome cookies, which was fun, a member of our ward brought us dinner, and she was going through a really hard time, so we were able to pray with her, and give her comfort. It's neat to me that even though we couldn't go out, we were still able to help the people that we needed to, whether they came to us or through the technology that we have. It was amazing.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>I think it's wonderful to see the promise be fulfilled that no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing. I know that to be true. Even storms and being stuck inside can't keep us from serving the Lord. It was a neat experience.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>&nbsp;I love this work so much. :)</div><div><br /></div><div>So we got transfer calls on Saturday!!!&nbsp; I was so unsure of what was going to happen, but Hermana Laboriel and I are staying together in Mission Viejo 5th ward!!!! WOOOO!!!!! I am so so so so so grateful. Just as we were about to say goodbye to our district leader though, he said, "Hold on! There's something else!" We were super confused, but then we found out that another Sister was being transferred from English to Spanish, and we were going to be IN A TRIO!!!!!! I've never been in a trio, and I am so ecstatic that I get to have one for my last transfer as a missionary. Her name is Hermana Brown!! I will be including a picture of the three of us that was taken this morning in our car. :)&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Haha, I'm so happy to be exactly where I am. I know this is where God wants me, and am so grateful to be in his service. This is the best and most important work in the world. There is a scripture in D&amp;C 123 that I thought of, which says,</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="m_-5949720551388138443gmail-" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.008); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: palatino, &quot;palatino linotype&quot;, pahoran, georgia, &quot;times new roman&quot;, serif; line-height: 25.2px; margin-bottom: 26px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="m_-5949720551388138443gmail-bookmark-anchor m_-5949720551388138443gmail-dontHighlight" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="m_-5949720551388138443_12" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #0091bc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">&nbsp;"</a><span class="m_-5949720551388138443gmail-verse" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">12&nbsp;</span>For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are&nbsp;blinded&nbsp;by the subtle&nbsp;craftiness&nbsp;of men, whereby they lie in wait to&nbsp;deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they&nbsp;know not&nbsp;where to find it—</div><div class="m_-5949720551388138443gmail-" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.008); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: palatino, &quot;palatino linotype&quot;, pahoran, georgia, &quot;times new roman&quot;, serif; line-height: 25.2px; margin-bottom: 26px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="m_-5949720551388138443gmail-bookmark-anchor m_-5949720551388138443gmail-dontHighlight" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="m_-5949720551388138443_13" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #0091bc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">&nbsp;</a><span class="m_-5949720551388138443gmail-verse" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">13&nbsp;</span>Therefore, that we should waste and&nbsp;wear&nbsp;out our lives in bringing to light all the&nbsp;hidden things&nbsp;of darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven—</div><div class="m_-5949720551388138443gmail-" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.008); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: palatino, &quot;palatino linotype&quot;, pahoran, georgia, &quot;times new roman&quot;, serif; line-height: 25.2px; margin-bottom: 26px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="m_-5949720551388138443gmail-bookmark-anchor m_-5949720551388138443gmail-dontHighlight" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="m_-5949720551388138443_14" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #0091bc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">&nbsp;</a><span class="m_-5949720551388138443gmail-verse" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">14&nbsp;</span>These should then be attended to with great&nbsp;earnestness.</div><div class="m_-5949720551388138443gmail-" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.008); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: palatino, &quot;palatino linotype&quot;, pahoran, georgia, &quot;times new roman&quot;, serif; line-height: 25.2px; margin-bottom: 26px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="m_-5949720551388138443gmail-bookmark-anchor m_-5949720551388138443gmail-dontHighlight" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="m_-5949720551388138443_15" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #0091bc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">&nbsp;</a><span class="m_-5949720551388138443gmail-verse" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">15&nbsp;</span>Let no man count them as small things; for there is much which lieth in futurity, pertaining to the saints, which depends upon these things."</div><div class="m_-5949720551388138443gmail-" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.008); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25.2px; margin-bottom: 26px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">There are so many people who don't have the truth, and I'm out here working to help them find it. I love where it says that this should be "attended to with great earnestness." Because in the war against Satan, we can't afford to be idle. He isn't going to stop trying to drag people down to misery, so we can't stop trying to help lift them up to the light, the pathway of happiness. I know this gospel to be true with my whole soul. I know that Christ lives, and is fighting everyday with us, shoulder to shoulder, helping us bring souls back home to Heavenly Father.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="m_-5949720551388138443gmail-" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.008); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25.2px; margin-bottom: 26px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I love you all so much. Please let me know if I can do anything for you. Have an amazing week!!!</span></div><div class="a6S bar" dir="ltr" style="left: 456px; opacity: 0.01; top: 1435.56px;"><div aria-label="Download attachment image.png" class="T-I J-J5-Ji aQv T-I-ax7 L3 a5q" data-tooltip-class="a1V" data-tooltip="Download" id=":1ok" role="button" tabindex="0"><div class="aSK J-J5-Ji aYr"></div></div><div aria-label="Save attachment to Drive image.png" class="T-I J-J5-Ji aQv T-I-ax7 L3 a5q" data-tooltip-class="a1V" data-tooltip="Save to Drive" id=":1ol" role="button" tabindex="0"><div class="wtScjd J-J5-Ji aYr aQu"><div class="T-aT4" style="display: none;"><div></div><div class="T-aT4-JX"></div></div></div></div></div><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="m_-5949720551388138443gmail-" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.008); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25.2px; margin-bottom: 26px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Con mucho amor,</span></div><div class="m_-5949720551388138443gmail-" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.008); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25.2px; margin-bottom: 26px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">&nbsp;Hermana Wood&nbsp;</span></div></div></div>Anniejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935359988326301276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288777963539232529.post-71643609089548072312017-07-08T19:45:00.003-07:002017-07-08T19:45:48.410-07:00Week 74: Feliz dia del amor y la amistad!Hello! How is everybody? :D<br /><div><br /></div><div>HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! :) I hope that it is filled with love and happiness, and that you each remember how much I love you. :) &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Wow, this week was full of miracles. I think I say that every week, but it's still true. :)&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>I made a rookie mistake on Sunday and asked someone for dinner, while my companion was talking to someone else, asking for dinner, and we set up dinner for the same night... So long story short, we had 3 scheduled dinners in 1 night. That was crazy, but we had some good authentic Hispanic food. Plus one was super nice, and just let us take it to go, so we only wound up having two. But portion sizes are real my friends, and I was just fine. :)&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>This week we were able to teach Micaela's daughter about God's love. I absolutely adore the fact that the first thing that we teach people is about their divine identity, and a divine, loving father. Is there anything else that we would rather teach? I love sharing God's love with people.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Thursday was amazing. Seriously, one of the most Spirit filled days on my mission. We went on exchanges as a zone, and I went to the North area of Mission Viejo with Hermana Smith, who came into the mission field with me. We had some great studies in the morning, then just went out and worked. It was so good. We went by a house, where a man they had met at a service project lived. He invited us in, and we began to talk with them. We were able to teach some things, and then they started talking about their daughter who had passed away.&nbsp; As soon as I heard them talk about that, I knew that it was the reason why I was in that particular area that day. God had been preparing me through my experiences, to help this family. I was able to testify of eternal families, and share with them the love of God, and let them know that they were going to have their daughter again. It was truly amazing.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>We visited with a lot of people this week, and saw a lot of miracles.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>We had a Sisters Conference this past Friday, and it was so wonderful. We talked a lot about thoughts, and about how our whole lives begin with how we think about things. I think what I learned the most was that whether we are happy or sad in our circumstances depends on what we are thinking as we go through them. It was a wonderful experience, and I learned that to make each day more meaningful, more spirit-filled, and simply happier, we must think the thoughts that Christ would think. If we want to be like Christ, we must do as He would do. When we are doing as Christ would do, that is when we truly are happy. It was really neat to think about.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't have much time left, but I want to leave you with my testimony.&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Missionary work is the best thing in the world. Here on my mission, I have truly come to understand what the Atonement of Jesus Christ means. I have been so blessed in being able to see others come closer to Jesus Christ and accept his atonement. I have been able to teach people from all walks of life, and probably one of the biggest lessons I have learned is that God loves all of them. Every single one, without exception. He sees our potential, even when we don't. He never forgets us, and puts others in our path so that we can come closer to him. That's all he wants. His sole purpose is to help us be happy. In Moses we learn that God's purpose is "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." We also know that "men are that they might have joy." I have realized that when you put the two together, that God's purpose is to help us have joy. How do we get true joy? Returning to live with our Heavenly Father, and helping others do the same. That's why I'm here on my mission. So that others can have the joy I have felt in my life. It would be so selfish of me to not share it. I love this Gospel, and I know it to be true. I know that families are truly eternal, and that this life is only a glimpse of what is to come. I love my Savior, and I'm so grateful for Him, and his example.&nbsp;</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">I love you all, and I hope you all have an amazing week. Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you.&nbsp;</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Con mucho amor,&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Hermana Wood :)&nbsp;</div>Anniejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935359988326301276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288777963539232529.post-6428811640006770792017-07-08T19:44:00.002-07:002017-07-08T19:44:47.367-07:00Week 73: Andale puesHey y'all! This week was great!<br /><div><br /></div><div>So this week. We started February! What the heck!? I feel like all of time is just blurring together now. A year ago, I was leaving my greenie area... Never would I have imagined all of this happening.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Spanish phrase of the week: Andale pues&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>It literally means nothing, but is just used as a filler word. It took me 4 weeks to figure that out. No one could tell me the meaning of the word. If I figure out a better meaning, I'll let you know. :)&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>We saw some really cool miracles this week. We saw Gina again! She is super nice. She loves the messages we share, and just like everyone has her hang up, but I'm confident that she will come to see the truthfulness of the gospel. That's something I love about this gospel. We don't actually have to convince anyone that it's true. All we are here to do is invite people to find out for themselves! Then, if they have a pure heart, and real intent, they will find out as well that it's true. I love that we're not selling a product, we're just sharing the message of God's love. What a blessing that we get to do that.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>We went to a crazy bible study this week, it was weird, but kind of cool. One of the ladies there said that she had a lot of questions about our church, which we are more than happy to answer, but we'll have to go on a day that they're not having the bible study, cause that was a crazy night.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>We picked up a few new investigators this week! One is Micaela. She is so awesome! The Hermanas met her contacting a while ago, and we were able to stop by and teach about eternal families, and how God is our loving father. The Spirit was so strong. We are going back this week, and will hopefully invite her to be baptized. We also had a pass off lesson with the English Elders, and it was so funny, because they don't speak any Spanish, so they just kind of sat, and nodded. :) But it was good, and a huge blessing for us. We're all on the same team, so that makes it all good.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>On Thursday we set a baptismal date with an investigator named Dariela. She is super sweet, and we actually haven't taught any of the set lessons that we have. But she agreed that if she knew this was true, she would enter the waters of baptism on March 4th. Hopefully we can help her get there. I'm excited to be a part of her journey.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Friday we had some meetings, then were able to meet with a less-active young woman and her mother and grandmother, who are not members of the church. We talked about Helaman 5:12, and about building upon the rock of Christ. It was a wonderful lesson, and we are going back to teach them on Friday. :) I'm so excited.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Something major that I've learned throughout these past few weeks is that we might not be able to communicate with people, whether it be because of a language barrier, or because someone is closed off or prideful, or whatever it may be, there are still a few things that are universally understood. The Spirit is one of them. I might not speak perfect Spanish, but I have learned how to teach with the Spirit. It has been amazing to see that even if I can't express myself as I would wish, I can still bring the Spirit into their lives. Another universal language is love. I love these people so much, and it makes me want to serve them. Service is another language that is universal.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Some General Authority once said, something along the lines of, &nbsp;"Always preach the gospel, and when necessary, use words." We can show people what the gospel is by how we act. I am so grateful for all the opportunities that I have to serve people. Service is probably one of my favorite things to do. One of the counselors in our mission presidency said in our last zone conference, "You love what you serve, and if you need to feel more love, serve more." It's so true. I can't help but love these people, because I am serving them. I am so happy to be exactly where I am, doing what I'm doing. It's the best thing in the world.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Here is a quote for this week!&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>"Perfect love casteth out fear."</div><div><br /></div><div><div>This has been a lesson for me on my mission, and I thought it went well with my thought earlier about love.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>I love you all so much! If there is anything you need, please let me know! I would love to help in any way!&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Have an amazing week!&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Love, Hermana Wood :)&nbsp;</div></div>Anniejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935359988326301276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288777963539232529.post-71987723546299418072017-03-06T14:35:00.003-08:002017-03-06T14:35:40.384-08:00Week 72: Press forward with a steadfastness of hope<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Greetings everybody! How are you all doing?&nbsp;</span><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I'm doing so good. This week has been super challenging, but amazing at the same time. Funny how Heavenly Father works that way. When we feel so alone, and like nothing is going right, He always somehow, someway if we're looking for it let us know that he is right there with us. None of us will ever truly be alone. Isn't that an amazing promise?&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Christ even said, "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." He has promised to be here for us. We have the Savior of the World at our fingertips, I hope that as we remember that, we will be more inclined to remember him, and his atonement. But not only remember it, but act on it, and use it so that one day we can dwell with him, Heavenly Father and our families forever. I am very grateful this week for eternal families.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">This week was wonderful. We saw many miracles, and I felt the hand of God guiding us and directing us on our way. We had a baptism in our ward this week! It was that of a 16 year old girl who was part of a part-member family. It was beautiful and touching in every way. I am so grateful for the path that Heavenly Father has for us, so that we can be united as families forever. Isn't it amazing?&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">We went on exchanges this week, and it was my first day since transfers where I didn't talk to anyone in Spanish. It was interesting to go back to English. It was an awesome day, and I loved being with Sister Hunter. We were crazy busy all day, and had a lot of appointments. It's so fun to teach all day! I loved every minute. We had a lesson with this amazing Lebanese family. They speak 4 different languages. Each of them. It's amazing. It was a powerful lesson about Prophets, &nbsp;the Bible and the Book of Mormon, and how they all go together. It was awesome.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Today we went on a crazy hike with one of the zones. It was super fun, but super hard. My fitbit equated it to walking up 75 flights of stairs... :) It thought it was funny. :)&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">That's about it for today, seeing as I'm almost out of time. I love you all so much!&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><img alt="Inline image 1" class="CToWUd a6T" height="306" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/?ui=2&amp;ik=aaeb4e8ef1&amp;view=fimg&amp;th=159f14f091de1963&amp;attid=0.1&amp;disp=emb&amp;realattid=ii_159f14d5f33c9f93&amp;attbid=ANGjdJ_y3buZD7BnBtcDhzqWdkMuf7FvQ6MpcK4w-icp1_Sf0XgnmShgzjX8--ATp5JxYltQSaZtBbmcteQsvapUIOlHxEloId5vam_YC0VynAjZZM5M0NojHxiAjOg&amp;sz=w1088-h612&amp;ats=1488838539889&amp;rm=159f14f091de1963&amp;zw&amp;atsh=1" style="cursor: pointer; outline: 0px;" tabindex="0" width="544" /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><img alt="Inline image 2" class="CToWUd a6T" height="306" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/?ui=2&amp;ik=aaeb4e8ef1&amp;view=fimg&amp;th=159f14f091de1963&amp;attid=0.2&amp;disp=emb&amp;realattid=ii_159f14deac240565&amp;attbid=ANGjdJ_stjAU7fWpsdJc36fBs5giLtUcQ_81IcLS-zIFZn4d35Ai614IR9f7Rbrh5ndeVdjUbnpUMUS3Aq0wlXtnZxSiCu95tOL2-ZR0EdtceDTBrB-6q7NAdrXglJM&amp;sz=w1088-h612&amp;ats=1488838539889&amp;rm=159f14f091de1963&amp;zw&amp;atsh=1" style="cursor: pointer; outline: 0px;" tabindex="0" width="544" /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I know that God is leading this church. We might not be able to understand His plan, but I know that it will always be for our benefit.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I love you all, and hope you have the most amazing week, and that you will look for God's hand every day.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Love, Hermana Wood :)&nbsp;</div>Anniejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935359988326301276noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288777963539232529.post-69356097126006305822017-03-06T14:35:00.000-08:002017-03-06T14:35:04.984-08:00Week 71: Milagros! aka miracles. :)<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Hello everybody!&nbsp;</span><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">This week has been really good. And when I say really good, I mean amazing! :)&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Haha, It's just been good. This week was really full of humbling experiences. It's kind of amazing to me how when we are humble, that is when the Lord can work miracles through us, and truly show His hand in our lives. When we are prideful, it's a lot harder for him to do that, because we aren't relying on him to help us.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">We had zone conference this week. The theme for zone conference was definitely consecration. They talked a lot about giving everything, and putting everything that you need to on the altar of sacrifice. I'm working on consecrating time every day to memorize a scripture, because nothing has more power than the word of God, and we are here to share God's word and love.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">One of our mission presidency talked about how you love what you serve. If you serve the Lord, you will come to love the Lord, if you serve the world, you will love the world. Where you put your time and energy is where your heart is. I think that's why the Lord said to treasure up things in heaven and not on earth. Because where our treasure is, our heart will be. He also talked about how if you are lacking love for your companion, or your ward, or whoever, serve them, and the love will come. It was cool. :)&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">We watched Only a Stonecutter, which is only like 20 minutes long, and a phenomenal little film if you need inspiration.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">It was a wonderful meeting. I also had the opportunity to bear my testimony in Spanish. It was super nerve-wracking, but I know that Heavenly Father was there with me. It was very simple and basic, but it reminded me that the Gospel isn't always super complex, but is often simple enough for a child to understand. It was humbling, but a wonderful spirit came over me as I bore my testimony. I couldn't say much, but what I could say, I felt with my whole soul that it was true. It was a very sweet experience.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I had another taste of what missionary work is truly about this week. There is a family in our ward who is struggling. A lot. They had a really rough experience as a family, and while there wasn't a whole lot we could do for them, we went over to their house, and we were able to offer them comfort and support. We called the Elders, and they came and gave a Priesthood blessing to the mother. Also we were able to give them some supplies that the mission was trying to get rid of, that they needed. It just reminded me of the pure love that God has for all of his children. I feel very blessed to have been an emissary of that love for that family. I may not be able to speak Spanish very well, or teach very well, but I can love people. It was a wonderful reminder.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">We had an appointment with a less-active member of our ward on Saturday, but when we got there, no one was home. We were kind of surprised, and waited for a while to see if she was coming, but she never came. We walked around for a bit, trying to contact former investigators in the area. As we were doing that, we walked past a woman, and I listened for a moment and heard that she was speaking Spanish to someone on the phone. I motioned for Hermana Laboriel to wait, so we could talk to her. We talked for about 20 minutes, and we taught her about how God is our loving Heavenly Father. We soon had to leave though, and I had a feeling to ask her if she would let us come back and teach the lessons, so that I could practice my Spanish. She said that we were more than welcome, and we will be going to teach her on Tuesday! I'm grateful for the opportunities we have to follow the promptings of the Spirit. :)&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Yesterday church was good. Obispo (Bishop) invited Hermana Laboriel and I to bear our testimonies at the end of sacrament meeting. I was again reminded that I don't have to do everything perfectly. All I really need to do is try my best, follow the Spirit, and use the Atonement. When we do those things, we really can't truly fail. We were able to go to a devotional last night, where one of the less-active (now active) members I worked with in South Coast was speaking. It was wonderful to be able to go and support her.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I love being here. I love serving a mission, and being able to serve the lord. I know this is the true church. Yo se que hay milagros todos las dias cuando buscamos por ellos.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Thought for today!</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><img alt="Inline image 1" class="CToWUd a6T" height="306" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/?ui=2&amp;ik=aaeb4e8ef1&amp;view=fimg&amp;th=159ccee48acc4ecf&amp;attid=0.1&amp;disp=emb&amp;realattid=ii_159cce8b13ac4015&amp;attbid=ANGjdJ9RSkNCR6n-jiA4mxr_zO8iON_0ZLsV9_QCug0C2ieyY5z3-3VbUT4J7qQbWYGRc4eyk4XhiP6X2fUtysekhZf2zbqSjtrRlZglH0-8evLuFOp7VvZK6pktbjc&amp;sz=w1088-h612&amp;ats=1488838546384&amp;rm=159ccee48acc4ecf&amp;zw&amp;atsh=1" style="cursor: pointer; outline: 0px;" tabindex="0" width="544" /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">It's so true. I have been the happiest when I'm serving others. Like King Benjamin said, "When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Les quiero! I'll talk to you next week! Let me know if I can do anything for you!&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Con mucho amor,&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Hermana Wood&nbsp;</div>Anniejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935359988326301276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288777963539232529.post-67693899882402180562017-03-06T14:34:00.002-08:002017-03-06T14:34:30.092-08:00Week 70: Bienvenida a la zona Espanol!<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Hola amigos y familia!!!&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">This week has been good... Lots of Spanish, and lots of lessons, where I basically had no clue what was happening, but good nonetheless. &nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Someone asked me yesterday how church was, and I compared it to trying to drink out of a fire hose... cause that's kind of what it was like. :) But everyone in this ward is super friendly, and smiled at me a lot, even if I didn't quite understand what they were saying. So that was definitely a plus.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">We picked up an investigator this morning! His name is Jose, and his mom is a less-active in our ward. Last Friday during weekly planning, Hermana Laboriel wanted to call all of the people on our ward list that are in our area, and see if we could set up appointments with them, if we didn't know them. It was cool! So we set up a bunch of appointments with people where we could and we are going to go see all of them! It's going to be great. :)&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I've been practicing my Spanish a lot, and there are times when I can really feel Heavenly Father help me to understand and to speak. I've never been more convinced of the fact that the gift of tongues is real.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">We also picked up another investigator last week. His name is Henry, and he has been taught off and on for the past 30 years. We didn't know that when we went, because we were going to see his mother, who has been fairly inactive for the past few years. Then we got there, and we found out that he wasn't a member, and talked about the gospel, and found out that he wants to be baptized, but there are some big things that he needs to work through before he can. But he wants to change, and we are hoping that Heavenly Father will help us to help him. We have another appointment with him tonight. :)&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">We have other investigators too, and they are super nice. Everyone has just been so friendly to me, and to us. It has been a huge blessing, because even though I struggle to communicate, I don't feel judgement, just love. That has been really nice.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I'm doing good. I am not by any means fluent, but it has been a blessing that I can at least to some degree understand people. I also found out this week that President had no idea that I had taken any Spanish in High School, or had any grasp of any sort on the language, so that was kind of cool. :)&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I'm doing well. I have more confidence now, than I did last week. :) Hermana Laboriel is awesome, plus we have an awesome new WML, who just got called on Sunday. Funny thing is, he was in the South Coast ward when I was serving there a little over a year ago. :) So it's been cool to see them again. :D&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I'm happy, still adjusting, grateful for the opportunity. I know that this is a challenge that I can handle, as long as I rely on my Heavenly Father. Hence the quote for this week. :)&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><img alt="Inline image 2" class="CToWUd a6T" height="306" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/?ui=2&amp;ik=aaeb4e8ef1&amp;view=fimg&amp;th=159ae4d257974028&amp;attid=0.1&amp;disp=emb&amp;realattid=ii_159ae30ba3fea998&amp;attbid=ANGjdJ-c7JjkkIePNg3oHjZOKThFfauUJdFC6gJdHvZsbmYsg8FT5f0-YQxUmow8ijsqOJ1BhNxJAGwYGZzMEh--FFocp61p8G-Y4XAY0H2hxf0EXgntk9WaVf1gcd8&amp;sz=w1088-h612&amp;ats=1488838546818&amp;rm=159ae4d257974028&amp;zw&amp;atsh=1" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; outline: 0px;" tabindex="0" width="544" /><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I know that I would not be asked to do this is God didn't need me here. I'm excited to work and to grow in the ways Heavenly Father needs us too.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Thank you for all your love and support! I hope you all have an amazing week!!&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Te quiero mucho!&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Love, Sister Wood :)&nbsp;</div>Anniejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935359988326301276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288777963539232529.post-19456032158937726892017-03-06T14:33:00.003-08:002017-03-06T14:33:49.232-08:00Week 69: Hermana Wood? <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Hey Everybody! This week has been nuts.... Craziness.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">So it started off pretty normal... We had P-day on Monday, Tuesday we had District Meeting. We had an awesome District Meeting. I love my District so much! It's been so fun to work with them this transfer. We decided to have one last District Blitz in our area before transfers. We also had a really cool training on being a light.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">All of our dinners cancelled this week, so we had a lot of meals at home. I like being with Sister Cannon, so we made the most of it.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">We went to the temple! It was so amazing. I am so grateful that I got to go and be there. It seriously is one of my all time favorite places to be. Afterwards we went as a district to get lunch, which is always fun. It was so peaceful at the temple, and I just felt so good.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">On Saurday morning, we had a blitz in the San Clemente area. It was so amazing! We found a new investigator named Ana! She is from Brazil, and when she was flying from Brazil to California, she sat next to a missionary who gave her a Book of Mormon and taught her about it. We were walking around her neighborhood, right as she got home. We asked if we could share a message about Christ, and she said yes! I'm excited to see where it goes, because she seemed really genuine.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">So, this email is probably pretty scatter-brained, because I really only have one thing on my mind. I've been thinking about it constantly since Saturday night. On Saturday night, we had our weekly appointment with Sister Perry and the Elders. We knew it was transfer call night, so we were making sure to be home by 9. I wasn't particularly worried about transfers, because we just white-washed these areas, so I was pretty confident that we would both stay in the area. If not, I really thought I would stay, because I only have two transfers left. So it wasn't a huge deal to me. We got home at about 8:55, and then texted that we were inside. Sister Cannon went to shower, and I was going to get the transfer call, because we were that confident that we would both stay. So 9:30 rolls around, and I'm sitting out on the patio talking to the Hermanas who used to be our roomates, but are now our next door neighbors, waiting for the call, when suddenly the phone rings. I answer it, and this is how the conversation went.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Hello, this is Sister Wood."&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Hi Sister Wood, it's Elder Rosenow, are you ready for your transfer call?"</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Yup, are we both staying?"</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Um... No. Sister Wood, you are being transferred to the Mission Viejo 5th Spanish ward, and you will be companions with Hermana Laboriel. You will be the designated driver, and you will be covering the MV 5th south area, speaking Spanish."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"......." "Elder Rosenow, that's not funny, what is actually happpening?"&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Sister Wood, I'm not kidding, you're going Spanish."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"I don't speak Spanish! Really, are you kidding?"</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"I'm not. Sister Cannon will be joined in Forester Ranch and San Clemente by Sister Wright."&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Okay...... thanks....... (at this point I was sobbing) I'm going to go pray now."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">And that was pretty much what happened. So I will be going to Spanish work today and doing my best to learn the language. I have been reciting 1 Nephi 3:7 over and over in my head, because I'm not sure what else to do. I'm so nervous, but I know that for some reason, God needs me where he is putting me, and I like Nephi will go and do. It's going to be a huge growing experience, because I am so far out of my comfort zone. We'll see how it goes. :)&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><img alt="Inline image 1" class="CToWUd a6T" height="306" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/?ui=2&amp;ik=aaeb4e8ef1&amp;view=fimg&amp;th=1598502fa5e30fb4&amp;attid=0.2&amp;disp=emb&amp;realattid=ii_1596c1aef40aa25f&amp;attbid=ANGjdJ8BdjFMPJIq6Dk0DAOyG6z7r9Ea-NuBS3ps4VH0hFYXKx_lvBS-ALy1ScxOeh5CDWrBKNQIQ9TpJ6im7B6_65p1jDcM9rylViK-zhvN2SQPy9O4aVubo90tbCo&amp;sz=w1088-h612&amp;ats=1488838546835&amp;rm=1598502fa5e30fb4&amp;zw&amp;atsh=1" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; outline: 0px;" tabindex="0" width="544" /><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><img alt="Inline image 2" class="CToWUd a6T" height="306" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/?ui=2&amp;ik=aaeb4e8ef1&amp;view=fimg&amp;th=1598502fa5e30fb4&amp;attid=0.1&amp;disp=emb&amp;realattid=ii_1596c1b5915592a2&amp;attbid=ANGjdJ9Y-REfk6hdRP5nBTHYgka7cYh8Jc8G9ac_Wt7Ll-M_RH9Y4RUwRcmQbsshdelFKDOe97733VtMHEiRdRl679GnSNu1OwApp2YE1M1trjzqtOLGBRar5xoZrro&amp;sz=w1088-h612&amp;ats=1488838546835&amp;rm=1598502fa5e30fb4&amp;zw&amp;atsh=1" style="cursor: pointer; outline: 0px;" tabindex="0" width="544" /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">God has a plan for me, and a plan for you. When he asks something of us, he will always provide a way. I feel like I'm at the bottom of a huge mountain, and I have to climb it. I can't see the top, or how I'm going to get there, but I have a loving Heavenly Father who can see. He won't leave me alone on my journey. So I will climb. I love you all!&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Love, Hermana Wood....&nbsp;</div>Anniejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935359988326301276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288777963539232529.post-40871458266506943102017-03-06T14:23:00.000-08:002017-03-06T14:23:03.536-08:00Week 68: 2017<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Happy 2017 everybody!&nbsp;</span><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">This&nbsp;<span class="il">week</span>&nbsp;was really good! We saw some definite miracles this&nbsp;<span class="il">week</span>. We were able to meet two part-member families in our ward, and we will hopefully be able to start teaching them soon. They seem pretty open to the gospel, and coming back to church, so I'm excited to see where it goes.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Felicia is still on date for this Saturday, and the Elders who are teaching her promised to send pictures! I'm so happy for her. :)</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">We had breakfast with Bishop and his family on Wednesday. They are the nicest people ever! I don't know how I got so blessed to serve here with all these amazing people.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I went on exchanges with Sister Downs in Cristianitos and Liberty Park wards. It was so fun. I love her lots. It was great to see some of the people that I knew when I was serving in those wards. I can't think of anything else that gets you to meet so many people. Missions are awesome. :)&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">We have been helping the Elders teach one of their investigators, and she is just like the sweetest person on the planet. She has so many insights, and has such a testimony of the gospel. She just doesn't realize it in herself. Hopefully we can keep helping her move in a forward direction.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">We were inside early on New Years Eve and had another great zone activity. :) We played water volleyball inside the gym, which may or may not have been the best idea, but it was really fun. I slept through the celebrating of the new year, but I hope you all had fun. :) Our church times got switched, so now our whole schedule is changing, and we have to figure out how to work our lives out again. It'll be fun.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">We got a miracle text this&nbsp;<span class="il">week</span>! On Wednesday? Thursday? It doesn't matter. Earlier this&nbsp;<span class="il">week</span>, I had a feeling to text one of our investigators who we haven't been able to meet with all transfer. I didn't say anything special, just wished him a Merry Christmas, and asked how he was doing. He then told us that he really wanted to retake the lessons again, but hadn't been sure how to ask us. He comes back in town today, and we are going to meet with him sometime this&nbsp;<span class="il">week</span>! He is aiming to be baptized in February! It was so exciting! :D&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">This&nbsp;<span class="il">week</span>&nbsp;we have been focusing on being early to things, and I think it is going to be a trend for me for the rest of my mission. When we're early to things, it gives&nbsp; us time to prepare mentally and spiritually. We don't feel rushed, and we are showing others that we are reliable. We have seen blessings come from striving to be early.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I'm very grateful for Sister Cannon. She is a wonderful missionary, and a wonderful companion.&nbsp;This&nbsp;<span class="il">week</span>&nbsp;has been very good and full of miracles.&nbsp; We don't know what will happen at transfers, but we are striving to do everything we can, so if anything happens, we can leave the are with no regrets. This is something I think would be beneficially for life in general. Doing your best so you don't regret things.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I've been thinking recently about the difference between regret and remorse. Regret holds us back, and keeps us from progressing. When we regret, we are leaving one foot in the past, and letting it weigh us down, preventing us from moving forward. When we have remorse, or Godly sorrow, it helps us to move on, and while we feel sorrow for the choices we made, or whatever our circumstances were, it propels us forward, and helps us to be better. I am hoping and striving that for this next year, I will feel remorse for my mistakes, but move forward, trusting Heavenly Father. I know that as we do, we will be blessed. We are intended to be eternal beings, but we can't do that if we don't keep moving forward. If you have a chance, read the talk "Remember Lot's Wife" by Elder Holland. It's a BYU speech. It's super good, and give some great insight about goals and moving forward.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">That's about it!&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I love you all lots! Let me know if there's anything I can do for you!&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I hope you all have an amazing&nbsp;<span class="il">week</span>!&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Much love, Sister Wood :)&nbsp;</div>Anniejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935359988326301276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288777963539232529.post-18267124888104954952017-03-06T14:19:00.001-08:002017-03-06T14:19:27.071-08:00Week 67: Happy New Year! <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Wow, it's crazy to me that 2016 is already gone. I feel like it was just a few weeks ago that I was at this point last year, serving in my very first area, with my second companion. There are some days where I wish that I could serve another mission right after this one is over so I don't have to stop doing this work. It absolutely is the best thing I have ever done.&nbsp;</span><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">It was an amazing week filled with miracles and holiday cheer. We found out that our investigator who moved to Northern California has a baptismal date for the 7th of January! I'm so happy for her. That was kind of a miracle. The Elders up there are doing &nbsp;a phenomenal job. I actually taught her a lot when I was in San Clemente before, so it's amazing to hear that she is taking that step. I also found out that one of the investigators I taught in Newport Hills is being baptized on the 7th as well! So hopefully I will be able to go and attend his baptism. It's crazy how awesome it is to see these wonderful, sweet people enter the waters of baptism.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I loved Christmas. It was so full of wonderful people. We went to both churches, and were able to talk to family, which is always fun. I met my new nephew who slept the whole time I tried to look at him. It was wonderful to see everyone.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">We had a fun P-day activity yesterday, where we played volleyball. One of the Elders spiked the ball into my throat! It was pretty hilarious. He felt really bad, but it was more funny than painful. :D&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I'm so happy. I feel so lucky and blessed to be out here serving the Lord. I'm excited for 2017, and all of the new and exciting adventures and miracles that will come with it.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Thank you for all of your love and support. You may never know how much it means to me. Thank you.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><img alt="Inline image 1" class="CToWUd a6T" height="306" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/?ui=2&amp;ik=aaeb4e8ef1&amp;view=fimg&amp;th=15942717dbfa44fa&amp;attid=0.1&amp;disp=emb&amp;realattid=ii_1594269edf92ee18&amp;attbid=ANGjdJ-UCK-E6TnQnv6ExjatmT5EwO_icK-ypsmFmAG1f38Fdvh_6GjdF_4s-MX40K4v5_qJwy3eqvlL5slyvV35FeeajLfv_isT8tice_l1JX4oCF7I0jYgPj5HOlg&amp;sz=w1088-h612&amp;ats=1488838548166&amp;rm=15942717dbfa44fa&amp;zw&amp;atsh=1" style="cursor: pointer; outline: 0px;" tabindex="0" width="544" /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I love this quote, as we prayer fully set goals, Heavenly Father will help us see our potential, and where we can grow. He will help us. He wants us to improve and to be the very best we can be. I know he will do everything He can to help us grow.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I love you all! Talk to you next year!&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Love, Sister Wood :)&nbsp;</div>Anniejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935359988326301276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288777963539232529.post-54517983290255698602017-03-06T14:18:00.001-08:002017-03-06T14:18:45.927-08:00Week 66: MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">So I'm pretty much out of time... So sorry!&nbsp;</span><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">But I want you all to know that I love you, and I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!!!!&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I hope that you have an amazing week full of joy and miracles. As we put Christ more in our lives, the happier we will be. I know that having a Christ-centered Christmas will help us to truly feel of the holiday spirit. You all are amazing. Thank you for your examples and love.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><img alt="Inline image 1" class="CToWUd a6T" height="306" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/?ui=2&amp;ik=aaeb4e8ef1&amp;view=fimg&amp;th=159188366116e508&amp;attid=0.1&amp;disp=emb&amp;realattid=ii_159187e8de23917e&amp;attbid=ANGjdJ_QlHpH9XMn9kzp28X1-Nf86dZaWChCfEj25dk6k3tJ693lZBMywHocwl-AxG9KvGt9AzO4fkiiVuAKEc6ltADJ3bSDZexJc8BdMQ4SbPqp9YRNbBJMb4fdiP0&amp;sz=w1088-h612&amp;ats=1488838548848&amp;rm=159188366116e508&amp;zw&amp;atsh=1" style="cursor: pointer; outline: 0px;" tabindex="0" width="544" /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><img alt="Inline image 2" class="CToWUd a6T" height="306" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/?ui=2&amp;ik=aaeb4e8ef1&amp;view=fimg&amp;th=159188366116e508&amp;attid=0.2&amp;disp=emb&amp;realattid=ii_159187f081d103bc&amp;attbid=ANGjdJ9UCU7vKlHMNnOQyEWf-GDbwOTw5nzsLWhhXNC8eFsiuGqMMRJ8lKYLfx5oauAlqNcS3VHJFyKXNDl5vD-jVvYzvUC-4KQbS6PQBzS0AgMjhj3rnjW3aKKDU5s&amp;sz=w1088-h612&amp;ats=1488838548848&amp;rm=159188366116e508&amp;zw&amp;atsh=1" style="cursor: pointer; outline: 0px;" tabindex="0" width="544" /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><img alt="Inline image 3" class="CToWUd a6T" height="306" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/?ui=2&amp;ik=aaeb4e8ef1&amp;view=fimg&amp;th=159188366116e508&amp;attid=0.3&amp;disp=emb&amp;realattid=ii_159187f750f22210&amp;attbid=ANGjdJ9rTjzgn0XSeSu31IG8UGZsX7QzI1yeSQxot_7yt_SlJX7ljGTkfmCm7Yiq3iqLzBaqufVrTYW__SvWoFUX49pntzWff77VA8mhhuw01ODc-PhHV0u588ZCmH8&amp;sz=w1088-h612&amp;ats=1488838548848&amp;rm=159188366116e508&amp;zw&amp;atsh=1" style="cursor: pointer; outline: 0px;" tabindex="0" width="544" /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I love you all!!!!&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Love, Sister Wood :)&nbsp;</div>Anniejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935359988326301276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288777963539232529.post-56851537937594755172017-03-06T14:17:00.002-08:002017-03-06T14:17:45.975-08:00Week 65: Adjusting... :) <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Greetings everybody! I hope that all is going well. :)&nbsp;</span><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I know theoretically that Christmas is getting closer, but the weather here makes me think otherwise. It's so warm, but chilly at night. It's all good. :)&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">This week was really good. :) We had a lot of ward activities, and some really good lessons with the investigators in our wards. It has been really crazy.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I love these wards. There are so so so many amazing and wonderful people here. They are so good to us, and super nice. They are also pretty missionary minded, which is totally awesome. In ward council yesterday, someone said, "The Merrick's next door neighbor seemed pretty open to the gospel, but we think it would be best if the missionaries just "happened" to stop by. Do you Sisters think you could go tract over there and "run into them"?" Haha, I loved it so much. :)&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The Primary President is friends with one of our investigators who kind of fell of the grid, and she was talking to us about a solution, and she said, "I'll just keep texting her and calling her. Eventually she'll either come, or tell us that she's not interested. So we've just gotta keep trying!" It was the best thing ever.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I love these wards. I also got to decorate two Christmas trees this week! it was so fun.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">We had an awesome zone conference this week. There were some really good trainings, and they opened it up for everyone to tell miracle stories! It was so amazing to hear all of the miracles that are happening around the mission. I met with President to get my Ecclesiastical Endorsement for school. That was weird. It's odd to think about the future. It was also Sister Cannon's Birthday! So everyone sang to her at zone conference. We had dinner with Bud and helped him do some things around his house. He's the 95 year old. He is the sweetest man.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">We got to help with this huge interfaith choir concert at the Stake Center yesterday. It was wonderful. So many amazing performances. It was a phenomenal opportunity to serve, and to get to know members of other faiths from around the community. It was really good. I also got to see Lele!!!! It was so good to see her. We got to sit and talk for about ten minutes between my assignments. She is doing really well. She is going to get her endowments out in May, and invited me to come to the temple with her. I'm really hoping that I'll be able to come back for it. She's so amazing. She introduced me to some people as her first missionary. It filled my heart, and made me feel so grateful that Heavenly Father loved me enough to let me be a part of her life. It was wonderful.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">That's about it for this week, partially because I'm out of time.... So I'll talk to you all next week! This weeks thought comes from Elder Bednar. :)&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><img alt="Inline image 1" class="CToWUd a6T" height="306" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/?ui=2&amp;ik=aaeb4e8ef1&amp;view=fimg&amp;th=158f4846b1365344&amp;attid=0.1&amp;disp=emb&amp;realattid=ii_158f48252378ae0f&amp;attbid=ANGjdJ83vQxmdoq0Sh8Nx6SWYsY8DeVnoHcxQLkiKEbEICYw87DGPjuiItkfgzZqZd0uDdgARhf45b1iCvupu6wt6_vHeZgUtHvOp0WFEYQ1h5KSA5PqwJJbj7u8F0w&amp;sz=w1088-h612&amp;ats=1488838550549&amp;rm=158f4846b1365344&amp;zw&amp;atsh=1" style="cursor: pointer; outline: 0px;" tabindex="0" width="544" /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I love this quote. Something I've heard a lot this Christmas season is, "Keep Christ in Christmas." It makes me think of the reason why we're celebrating, and helps me to focus more on my Savior as we celebrate His birth. We are so blessed. I am so grateful for this season and the hearts that are softened as we all turn our hearts and thoughts to our Savior.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I love you all so much, and hope you have a wonderful week.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Love, Sister Wood&nbsp;</div>Anniejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935359988326301276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288777963539232529.post-58887001412182657632017-03-06T14:17:00.000-08:002017-03-06T14:17:00.412-08:00Week 64: Back to San Clemente!!<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Hey y'all. :)&nbsp;</span><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I'm not 100% sure where I picked up the y'all thing, but I literally say it all the time. It's a little bit funny.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">This week has been completely crazy. I have never seen a chicken run around with it's head cut off, but I'm sure that we looked something like that, and I don't know if that is going to change any time in the near future. It's all good though. It's good that Heavenly Father is in charge, cause otherwise, I would probably mess everything up real good. :)&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">We all got Christmas pajamas!!!! :D I don't currently have a picture, but hopefully soon. :) Our stake president got a pair for every missionary in the San Clemente zone. It's awesome. That's one tradition I did miss last year. :)&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">We pretty much hit the ground running this week. We got all our stuff packed into the car after transfers, then drove straight to dinner, and from there to a weekly lesson with a less-active in our ward and his non-member girlfriend, who is investigating the church. It went really well! This week we're going to invite them to come with us to a baptism that is happening in one of my last areas, which they will hopefully come to.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I realized that Heavenly Father has some crazy planning going on. When I was in San Clemente last time, I was on exchanges in Forester Ranch and San Clemente wards at least twice a week. So now I've been transferred here, and I already know a ton of people! Plus, I keep seeing people that I love from Marblehead, which is amazing. These wards are so amazing. So many wonderful people. We also have 3 progressing investigators already, which is also a miracle. Heavenly Father is so amazing. Something that seemed like an inconvenience at the time, is now such a huge blessing.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">We have been able to meet a lot of awesome people this week. We met 3 out of the 4 investigators, and were able to do a lot of service this week. We randomly got a call from a woman, who asked if we could go help her move, so we rounded up our district, the missionaries who serve in her area were able to go and help her. It was good. We helped one of our investigators move from one house to another, which means that she will now be keeping all of the commandments! We are hoping to set a date with her soon, because she really wants to be baptized, but she is going to be up in Northern California with her parents for the next little while. Hopefully soon though.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">We got to go help the Elders teach their investigator the Restoration, which is one of my favorite things to teach. I'm so grateful for the Restoration of the church, and for all that Joseph Smith did and went through in order for it to happen. Man, every time I think about the restoration, it just amazes me. It's so wonderful to be able to share it with others.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">We have two elderly people in one of our wards that we and the Elders visit on a weekly basis. They are the sweetest people on the planet. One's name is Bud, and he is 95. He is the sweetest old man ever. He was telling us the story of how he and his wife met... I was literally almost in tears. It was so sweet. The other lady is 80. Everyone calls her Mother Perry. It's so fun.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I love these wards so much, and it's only been a week. I know that there are people here that I need to meet, and I'm so excited to get to know them. I'm excited to see miracles and tender mercies here in San Clemente. It's going to be amazing!&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The thought today comes from John. :)</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><img alt="Inline image 1" class="CToWUd a6T" height="306" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/?ui=2&amp;ik=aaeb4e8ef1&amp;view=fimg&amp;th=158d0cf7d210b5b2&amp;attid=0.1&amp;disp=emb&amp;realattid=ii_158d0cb1f0f962be&amp;attbid=ANGjdJ_vs8TVBjT1wjfg8xZGAtczXBj-j8HqgvVYzcHk-_y4O7PVLtTbkX-aavFWWEWdKulxAbbFnOl7Khx0k3k3ZeYvqvEzzZmXpa3Mqwco97626tKWsjkaIZZR6FQ&amp;sz=w1088-h612&amp;ats=1488838551714&amp;rm=158d0cf7d210b5b2&amp;zw&amp;atsh=1" style="cursor: pointer; outline: 0px;" tabindex="0" width="544" /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">We've been focusing a lot on the #lighttheworld initiative. I want to invite all of you to go and check it out on&nbsp;<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&amp;q=http://mormon.org&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1488924951714000&amp;usg=AFQjCNF4UMkiks8yqdAeeZnDa38hH4oTzA" href="http://mormon.org/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">mormon.org</a>. It's so awesome, and it invites everyone to just do little things everyday that can bring a little more light into the world. It's been amazing to do it everyday, and I'm excited to keep going. There are blessings and miracles in store.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I love you all! Thank you for all that you do! I hope you have an amazing week!&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Love, Sister Wood :)&nbsp;</div>Anniejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935359988326301276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288777963539232529.post-47171732455522332062016-11-30T04:49:00.001-08:002016-11-30T04:49:14.827-08:00<div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>Hello! <br /></div>So it's really cold today. And by cold I mean 60 degrees. I have no idea how I'm going to live in Utah again, cause I'm really gonna be cold there. <br /></div>This week was good! We had an awesome Thanksgiving. :) I'm so grateful for people who let us be a part of their lives. We got to help prepare for it, which was totally awesome. After the turkey was cooked, we put something else in the oven, but it was on parchment paper... So the parchment paper caught fire, and we totally almost burned down the Hawkers house. It was really scary, but also really funny after the fact. :) <br /></div>We had to take our car in this week to see if the brakes were functioning properly, and while we were there, I had the opportunity to talk to the woman next to me about the gospel! It was so awesome! She accepted a copy of the Book of Mormon, and said she would read it. She doesn't live in our mission, so we are going to try and connect her with missionaries there. It was just kinda cool that we had that opportunity to share the gospel where we hadn't anticipated being able to. <br /></div>ZTM was good, we trained on having a laser-like focus on our purpose in our missionary work. It was good, and helped remind me of what really is important. We talked about how our purpose is really to do as Christ would do. Do the work the way he would do it. Invite people to do the things as he would. It was really cool. :) <br /></div>We got transfer calls! Crazy stuff there. I will be leaving Northwood, eliminating the possibility of me ever being in one area for longer than 3 transfers. Sister Peacock is going to be companions with Sister Lee, (who is currently serving in the yale ward, which is Mandarin speaking) who will finish her training. That is both happy and sad. They will be covering both the Chinese ward and Northwood, which means that Sister Peacock will have to learn Chinese as best she can. It's gonna be an amazing experience for her. <br /></div>I will be going back to the San Clemente Stake, serving in the San Clemente and Forester Ranch wards, where Sister Dinning got moved to last transfer. :) I will be doubling in (again) with Sister Cannon. It's going to be good! <br /></div>I'm really excited/ nervous. Doubling in/whitewashing is always a crazy experience. I'm sad to leave Sister Peacock, but she's going to do amazing things both in Northwood and in the Chinese ward. I'm so excited for her. I've had a lot of confirmations over the past few days that this is what Heavenly Father needs us to do, so I'm willing to do it. <br /></div>As we closed our planning session a few nights ago, Sister Peacock prayed that we could be companions again before I go home. We are sad to be separated. It was actually kind of weird, because out of the 5 Sisters that came with Sister Peacock, only 1 is staying with her first trainer. The Lord's timing is not always our timing. <br /></div>I think that's about all of the news and things. :) I'm excited for my next adventure! <br /></div>Today's thought comes from President Uchtdorf. :) <br /><br /><img alt="Inline image 1" height="298" shrinktofit="true" src="imap://jackie%40lostjungles%2Ecom@imap.gmail.com:993/fetch%3EUID%3E/INBOX%3E31442?part=1.2&amp;filename=image.png" width="530" /><br /></div>I know that it might seem hard sometimes, a lot of times even. Leaving my area is really hard. I love the people here. I also know that God has a greater vision that I do, and that I can be grateful even when things are hard. I am so grateful for all the opportunities that I have to grow every day. <br /></div>Thank you all for your love and support. I hope you have a marvelous week. :) <br /></div>Love, Sister Wood :)Jackie Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120568238258456280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288777963539232529.post-2747866270596214162016-11-30T04:48:00.003-08:002016-11-30T04:48:51.815-08:00<div dir="ltr"><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>Greetings everybody!<br /></div>This week was awesome! Miracles, everyday. <br /></div>Tuesday I went to the dentist super early in the morning. That was weird, cause I haven't been to the dentist in... a while. It was good though. Noteworthy enough for my email at least. :) We had district meeting, did some contacting, then tried to stop by Andrea's to give her some cookies. We were able to see her and give a short message and invite her to church, because her grandma was getting irritated that we were there. It was wonderful to see her. :) <br /></div>Wednesday's lesson with Kevin was good, by some stroke of luck, we wound up with three members there, so that was cool. :) We watched Craig C. Christensen's talk from this last conference. So good. <br /></div>Thursday we had a super short surprise MLC! We were also on exchanges, which made life a little more complicated. I was with Sister Bradsby in the Oak Creek ward. It was so good to be with her. She is just so sweet. All of us went and had lunch at Kevin's because Sister Dinning goes home in a week. :( It's sad, but good still. She's been such a phenomenal missionary. I was so blessed to have been her companion. After exchanges we had a zone testimony meeting. There is nothing like other testimonies to help you feel the spirit. <br /></div>Friday we met with the zone leaders to talk about the upcoming zone training meeting. I'm excited. It's going to be so good! Updates next week :) <br /></div>Saturday was amazing!!!!! :D I got to be on exchanges with Sister Wolterman!!! I love that girl. She goes home soon too, and asked President if we could go on exchanges one last time. :') It was so amazing. It was just wonderful to be able to talk to her and catch up on everything that had been happening since we last were together. We did service for Sister Goodwin and went to work! I think it's cool how in tune you can be with someone, even though you haven't been around them for a while. We just fell back into our old rhythm. :) We stopped by a former investigator that we found in the area book, and she opened the door! When we saw her, I asked, "are you Angie?" and she said, "who are you?" We told her who we were, and she waved us to come in! It was crazy. We then sat down with her, and she talked to us for over two hours. It was so cool! We shared a message with her from Alma 37:37, and she asked if she could keep the book we were sharing it from, to which we said yes. :) So now she has a Book of Mormon, and I will be marking another one with all of my favorite comforting passages in for her. I'm so excited! I'm so glad that we looked in the Area Book! We're going to see her tomorrow too! :D <br /></div><div>Yesterday we got to go to an Interfaith gathering! It was awesome! There were so many other people from other religions there, and it was really kind of cool to see how they conducted their worship services. I'm so glad I got to go. Also, Kevin came! That was a blessing as well. It was just a good week. :) <br /></div><div>I love you all! Thank you for all your love and support! I hope that you will let me know if I can do anything for you. Also, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! It's crazy to think that this is my second one on my mission.... :D But that's awesome as well. :) The thought to day comes from President Monson. <br /><br /><img alt="Inline image 1" height="298" shrinktofit="true" src="imap://jackie%40lostjungles%2Ecom@imap.gmail.com:993/fetch%3EUID%3E/INBOX%3E31274?part=1.1.2&amp;filename=image.png" width="530" /><br /></div><div>I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to serve a mission. I am grateful for my companion, and all of her hard work. I am grateful for this gospel and all the blessings that come with it. I am so grateful for my Savior. <br /></div><div>If I would like to extend an invitation to you this week. :) Sometime during this week, say a prayer of gratitude, only expressing thanks for the blessings that you have received. I hope you will, because I know that as you do, Heavenly Father will help you see even more all of the blessings you have been given. <br /></div><div>I love you! <br /></div><div>Love, Sister Wood :) </div><div><br /></div><div>Pictures!</div><div>1) The extent of my painting skills...&nbsp; </div><div>2) Palm trees. :) </div><div>3) Exchanges with Sister Bradsby! </div></div><br /><fieldset class="mimeAttachmentHeader"><legend class="mimeAttachmentHeaderName">DSC09452.JPG</legend></fieldset><br /><br /><center><img class="moz-attached-image" overflowing="true" shrinktofit="true" src="imap://jackie%40lostjungles%2Ecom@imap.gmail.com:993/fetch%3EUID%3E/INBOX%3E31274?part=1.2&amp;type=image/jpeg&amp;filename=DSC09452.JPG" /></center><br /><fieldset class="mimeAttachmentHeader"><legend class="mimeAttachmentHeaderName">DSC09458.JPG</legend></fieldset><br /><br /><center><img class="moz-attached-image" overflowing="true" shrinktofit="true" src="imap://jackie%40lostjungles%2Ecom@imap.gmail.com:993/fetch%3EUID%3E/INBOX%3E31274?part=1.3&amp;type=image/jpeg&amp;filename=DSC09458.JPG" /></center><br /><fieldset class="mimeAttachmentHeader"><legend class="mimeAttachmentHeaderName">DSC09472.JPG</legend></fieldset><br /><br /><center><img class="moz-attached-image" overflowing="true" shrinktofit="true" src="imap://jackie%40lostjungles%2Ecom@imap.gmail.com:993/fetch%3EUID%3E/INBOX%3E31274?part=1.4&amp;type=image/jpeg&amp;filename=DSC09472.JPG" /></center>Jackie Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120568238258456280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288777963539232529.post-38908085104210634932016-11-30T04:48:00.001-08:002016-11-30T04:48:05.009-08:00<div class="moz-text-html" lang="x-unicode"><div dir="ltr"><div><div><div>Dear everyone, <br /></div>Hello! This week has been super weird, but good. :) <br /></div>Started off pretty normal, service and stuff, which is always fun. Tangent: I love service so much! I never appreciated the opportunity to go out and help the community&nbsp; more than I have on my mission. I'm so grateful that we can help people temporally as well as spiritually, and we get to do it 24/7! When else do you have that opportunity? I feel blessed that we can do this everyday. I love doing service. <br /></div><div>So yeah. :) We went on exchanges!!! :D I went with Sister Graham in the Westpark and Woodbridge 1st wards. :) It was super fun! We got to go and tie quilts at a service project. (Refer to paragraph one if you want to know my feelings on that. :) ) It was super fun. We were able to see some less-actives in their ward, and go contacting for a little bit. We had dinner with one of the Senior missionaries in our mission, which was super fun. :) We love her. After dinner, we went and did MORE SERVICE!! It was AMAZING!&nbsp; :D I love exchanges, and service. <br /></div><div>Thursday we had zone conference with Elder Hamula! So good. So awesome. So many amazing things that we learned. I loved every minute of it. We all got to go and shake his hand, and then we just sat and learned from him, his wife, and President and Sister Clark. <br /></div><div>Some things I learned,<br /></div><div>Don't get stuck in a rut of what you are used to doing. Let the Spirit guide you in lessons, contacts, during studies, always. <br /></div><div>The Lord has given us a pattern in all things, when we follow the Lord's pattern, we will find not only success, but joy as well. <br /></div><div>To repent means to turn. When we sin, we are making a&nbsp; choice to turn away from God. When we make the choice to repent, we are turning back to him. <br /></div><div>Quote from Elder Hamula: "One of your challenges as young latter-day saints with a lot of energy, is your tendency towards impatience. You must be patient with others, sometimes more importantly, you must be patient with yourself."<br /></div><div>Super good. :) </div><div>We were able to teach a 20 minute discussion of the restoration with a woman in our ward, and it was super good. I love teaching the restoration. Having to do it quickly helps us to simplify, and make sure we're focusing on the most important thing. <br /></div><div>Due to a set of unusual circumstances, we attended zone conference the next day too. It was just as good as the first one. <br /></div><div>We had MLC with Elder Hamula as well, the day after the zone conferences ended. It was great! He helped us to understand that we are a good mission. We are doing a lot of good things, but it's time to take that to the next level of good. To take it from good to great. He told us that we need to laser in our focus, and make sure that we utilize everything we learned at zone conference. It was super neat. We had temple tours later that day, and I got to see Sister Hardin! (MTC comp. :) ) She came and sat with us for about an hour and just talked with us. It was so good. I love that girl.<br /></div><div>On Sunday we had stake conference with.... Elder Hamula! I've seen him everyday for the past 4 days. I'm definitely not complaining though. It's been amazing. It was an awesome stake conference. <br /></div><div>That's about all! It was a super uplifting week, and I look forward to the miracles that come from it. My thought today comes from John 14:18,<br /><br /><img alt="https://www.mormonchannel.org/bc/content/mormon-channel/images/blog-post/Daily%20Quote/960x540/MCDQ-11.13.jpg" height="287" shrinktofit="true" src="https://www.mormonchannel.org/bc/content/mormon-channel/images/blog-post/Daily%20Quote/960x540/MCDQ-11.13.jpg" style="margin-right: 0px;" width="510" /><br /></div><div>I think it is so amazing that no matter where we are, whether we're super far off the path, or right in the middle of it, Jesus Christ will come to us. He will never leave us alone, never abandon us. Whatever our trials, he is walking with us, matching our every step. <b>I know that no matter what, he will always be there. <br /></b></div><div>I love you all so much. Thank you for your prayers and love. I am so grateful for all of you. <br /></div><div>Love, Sister Wood :) </div><div><br /></div><div>Pictures! </div><div>1) We thought this car was super funny. :) </div><div>2) Exchanges with Sister Graham! </div><div>3) The moon was super pretty at temple tours. :D </div></div></div><br /><fieldset class="mimeAttachmentHeader"><legend class="mimeAttachmentHeaderName">DSC09435.JPG</legend></fieldset><br /><br /><center><img class="moz-attached-image" overflowing="true" shrinktofit="true" src="imap://jackie%40lostjungles%2Ecom@imap.gmail.com:993/fetch%3EUID%3E/INBOX%3E31137?part=1.2&amp;type=image/jpeg&amp;filename=DSC09435.JPG" /></center><br /><fieldset class="mimeAttachmentHeader"><legend class="mimeAttachmentHeaderName">DSC09444.JPG</legend></fieldset><br /><br /><center><img class="moz-attached-image" overflowing="true" shrinktofit="true" src="imap://jackie%40lostjungles%2Ecom@imap.gmail.com:993/fetch%3EUID%3E/INBOX%3E31137?part=1.3&amp;type=image/jpeg&amp;filename=DSC09444.JPG" /></center><br /><fieldset class="mimeAttachmentHeader"><legend class="mimeAttachmentHeaderName">DSC09448.JPG</legend></fieldset><br /><br /><center><img class="moz-attached-image" overflowing="true" shrinktofit="true" src="imap://jackie%40lostjungles%2Ecom@imap.gmail.com:993/fetch%3EUID%3E/INBOX%3E31137?part=1.4&amp;type=image/jpeg&amp;filename=DSC09448.JPG" /></center>Jackie Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120568238258456280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288777963539232529.post-15227633140477870442016-11-12T06:37:00.002-08:002016-11-12T06:37:02.857-08:00<div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>Oh my goodness! This week was super amazing. :) <br /></div>So Monday was pretty fun. We played Mafia as a zone. :D We have a great time together. I love my zone so much. <br /></div>Tuesday we had an awesome District meeting, and celebrated one of the Sisters birthdays. :) It was fun. We had an appointment with Arianna, and we had asked one of our ward missionaries to come with us to her lesson. When we went and knocked on the door, no one answered. It was odd, because we'd confirmed with her earlier that morning. We knocked again, and waited, but no one answered still. We felt a little sheepish, but we still wanted to do something productive while we had the ward missionary there, and we both felt prompted to ask if she would try someone elses house with us. We drove over to Andrea's house. (She is from Serbia, and Sister Dinning and I tracted into her if you don't remember.) When we got there, she opened the door, and invited us in!!!! :D It was so cool! Also, after five minutes of being there, we found out that Sister Rossberg (ward missionary) and Andrea had super similar stories, and could 100% relate to each other. It was so amazing. Andrea is going through some rough times, and told us about what is happening in her life. We were able to testify of a loving Heavenly Father who wants her to be happy, and is there with her every step of the way. She started to cry, I started to cry, and the Spirit was so strong. I felt just an overwhelming love for this woman. It was so good. After we had been talking for a while, she asked if she could come to church with us. To which we responded with a resounding yes. :) She wasn't able to come yesterday, but texted us, and was super worried that we would be mad or upset. We assured her that we weren't and that she could come next week. We really hope to see her. :D It was such a good experience. <br /></div>Wednesday we had a good lesson with Kevin. We read 1 Nephi 11 with him about the tree of life, and were able to talk about the symbolism, and what everything means. He asked a lot of questions, and we had some super good discussion. :) <br /></div>Thursday I was on exchanges with Sister Lee! We had a great time together, and were able to go and see a lot of the less-actives that we haven't been able to get a hold of recently. It was kind of a miracle. We were able to do some service, and Sister Lee contacted a bunch of people in Chinese, which is always super cool to see in action I love going on exchanges with the Sisters. It's always a wonderful experience, and leads to many mighty miracles. :) <br /></div>Yesterday was so good. I love fast and testimony meeting. It is so powerful when people get up to bear their testimonies. It is probably my favorite type of sacrament meeting. We had dinner with this amazing family. I love them so much. We had to have dinner super early, and had to make it really short, because we had to be somewhere at 5:30, but it was so wonderful. We had planned a message to share, but when the time came to share it, the Spirit led it in a totally different direction. We wound up talking about families, and family prayer. We talked about how prayer is like connecting with heaven. It was so amazing. I shared 3 Nephi 18:21, which talks about praying in your families, and I got super teary-eyed, because the Spirit testified to me how important it was. I was able to testify to this young family about the importance of family prayer. I'm so grateful that my parents were diligent in family prayer, because it has blessed my life far more than I'm sure I even know. We went to the temple music night, and saw Kevin there, as well as many friends. We spent most of it outside in the foyer talking to some recent converts that we knew. That was cool. Also, I found out that one of my investigators from Newport Hills is getting baptized!!! It's so exciting! <br /></div>That's about it! This week will be fun, because Elder Hamula from the First Quorum of the Seventy is coming to our Zone Conference on Thursday, and then to MLC on Saturday. I'm super excited. So many miracles are coming! They are always around us. I know that they are. <br /><br /><img alt="https://www.mormonchannel.org/bc/content/mormon-channel/images/blog-post/Daily%20Quote/960x540/MCDQ-11.5.jpg" height="320" shrinktofit="true" src="https://www.mormonchannel.org/bc/content/mormon-channel/images/blog-post/Daily%20Quote/960x540/MCDQ-11.5.jpg" style="margin-right: 0px;" width="570" /><br /></div>Oh my goodness. I love this quote. Plus, I love President Monson, so it's like double awesome. There are so many things that we can learn from the past, and we definitely need to prepare for the future, but there are so many miracles around us here and now. I am so grateful for the tender mercies that we have every day. <br /></div>I love you all! Thank you for all that you do! I'll talk to you next week! <br /></div>Much love, </div>Sister WoodJackie Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120568238258456280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288777963539232529.post-46262359325924305132016-11-01T03:57:00.002-07:002016-11-01T03:57:31.488-07:00<div class="moz-text-html" lang="x-unicode"><div dir="ltr"><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>Happy Halloween everybody!! <br /></div>Our Halloween is kinda boring, cause we all have to be inside by 7pm. :) So we'll finish P-day, go to dinner, then go play sports as a zone. Should be fun. :) Kevin made us come by this afternoon, so we could trick or treat at at least one house. :) He gave us candy and stuff. :) He's funny. <br /></div>Last Monday we taught Kevin, and showed him the talk, "Fourth Floor, Last Door" by President Ucthdorf. It was super good. :) The Elders came with us, to see if they could help us clear up some of his concerns, and they wound up giving him a priesthood blessing. It was very sweet, and I really hope that Kevin will open his heart to it. :) <br /></div>I forgot that we have to find time to do the 12 week training program for new missionaries, so it's been kind of an adventure making sure that we get it done.... : D</div></div>On Tuesday, Sister Peacock had a dinner with all the other new missionaries, and I went on splits with one of our ward missionaries! It was awesome. :) We went to Book of Mormon class, and I went to dinner with another set of Sister Missionaries. We had a good time. <br /></div>Wednesday, we met with a man in our ward and the Elders to talk about some people in our ward who might need our help. After we were done talking, they asked if we would teach the Restoration to him and his wife, with them posing as non-members. (Our stake is pushing the missionaries in each ward to get 20 lessons a week, so members can sign up to have us come teach a 20 minute Restoration discussion.) So it was a little bit of a surprise. It was kind of cool actually, because that morning during our 12 week study, we had practiced teaching the Restoration in a minute or less! When you are prepared, Heavenly Father definitely helps you. <br /></div>We were contacting, and we met some really interesting people. One is named Miriam! She is a very sweet lady, who we sang to in a park. She said she comes to the park every Monday and Wednesday, at 5:30, and that she would love to talk to us more! So we hopefully will be able to teach her. :) We had dinner at a new family in our ward's house, the Fry family, and they just moved here from Orem! I found out that they lived just down the street on Paradise Dr. from one of my really good friends. :) That was pretty funny. Random connections! <br /></div>Thursday was really good. :) We did service at 2nd Harvest, and went on splits so that we could go see Sister Romano, and help with the Korean English class. Good times all around.<br /></div>Friday was crazy. Crazy things happened. <br /></div>Saturday we got to go do temple tours!!! It was way fun. :) While we were there, a recent convert came up to us and talked with us for a few hours. It was super awesome. :) We had the stake trunk or treat, where we got to be judges for who decorated their trunk the best. My personal favorite was the Pokemon Go trunk. :) <br /></div>Kevin came to church yesterday, and it was great! I'm so grateful for him, and his desire to come to church, and to continue learning more. <br /></div>That's about it! I love ya'll lots. :) <br /><br /><img alt="https://www.mormonchannel.org/bc/content/mormon-channel/images/blog-post/Daily%20Quote/960x540/MCDQ-10.28.jpg" height="310" shrinktofit="true" src="https://www.mormonchannel.org/bc/content/mormon-channel/images/blog-post/Daily%20Quote/960x540/MCDQ-10.28.jpg" style="margin-right: 0px;" width="551" /><br /></div>Isn't it amazing that we are truly children of God? We each have the genetic disposition to become like Him. I am so grateful for that. I know that we each truly have the potential to become like Him. I love you all! Have a great week! <br /></div>Love, Sister Wood :) <br /></div>Pictures! </div><div>1) Service! </div><div>2) Trunk or treat with the stake! </div><div>3) Sister Peacock used to work at Coldstone, so I found one for us to go to. :) </div><div><br /></div></div></div><br /><fieldset class="mimeAttachmentHeader"><legend class="mimeAttachmentHeaderName">DSC09406.JPG</legend></fieldset><br /><br /><center><img class="moz-attached-image" overflowing="true" shrinktofit="true" src="imap://jackie%40lostjungles%2Ecom@imap.gmail.com:993/fetch%3EUID%3E/INBOX%3E30873?part=1.2&amp;type=image/jpeg&amp;filename=DSC09406.JPG" /></center><br /><fieldset class="mimeAttachmentHeader"><legend class="mimeAttachmentHeaderName">DSC09411.JPG</legend></fieldset><br /><br /><center><img class="moz-attached-image" overflowing="true" shrinktofit="true" src="imap://jackie%40lostjungles%2Ecom@imap.gmail.com:993/fetch%3EUID%3E/INBOX%3E30873?part=1.3&amp;type=image/jpeg&amp;filename=DSC09411.JPG" /></center><br /><fieldset class="mimeAttachmentHeader"><legend class="mimeAttachmentHeaderName">DSC09427.JPG</legend></fieldset><br /><br /><center><img class="moz-attached-image" overflowing="true" shrinktofit="true" src="imap://jackie%40lostjungles%2Ecom@imap.gmail.com:993/fetch%3EUID%3E/INBOX%3E30873?part=1.4&amp;type=image/jpeg&amp;filename=DSC09427.JPG" /></center>Jackie Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120568238258456280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288777963539232529.post-88900602848336162422016-11-01T03:56:00.002-07:002016-11-01T03:56:15.063-07:00<div class="moz-text-html" lang="x-unicode"><div dir="ltr"><div><div><div>Oh my goodness. Miracles are happening here in California. : ) It's been an amazing week. Simply wonderful. <br /></div>Monday was good, the usual stuff. Sister Dinning got to have dinner with one of her favorite families, then we went and said goodbye to Kevin... :( It was kind of sad, but she'll be okay. Plus we will continue teaching him, and all will be well. :) <br /></div>Tuesday was crazy. So much that we had to do. We packed and cleaned and visited people, and tried to do some contacting when we had the time. We had lunch with someone from one of our previous wards, ( we both started our mission is South Coast. ) which was awesome! After all that, we went to the stake center to attend transfers. I cannot tell you how nervous I was to go and get a new companion. I was super nervous. My heart was beating fast, and oh my goodness, my mind was running in every direction. I am also the only Sister that is training without a co-trainer, so that was nerve wracking as well. We sat down and waited for them to bring in all of the new missionaries. Then we stood and sang 'Called to Serve' as they walked in. I was conducting the music, so I got to see all of them as they sat down. It was so crazy. So the AP's said a few things, then started to announce who would be trained by who. I will be training..... *drum roll please* Sister Peacock!!!!! :D I know that means nothing to you guys, but she is so awesome. :) She was really tired, but super happy to be in California. :) I'm so so so so so excited to get to know her better and to work with her. We had dinner and Book of Mormon class, so she got to meet some of the members of the ward. It was great. :) We are going to see so many miracles together!! <br /><br /></div><div>The next few days were great! On Thursday, we saw Susan, and we talked to her for a little bit, and after listening to what was going on in her life, I told her about the Book of Mormon, and the peace that it brought into my life. How it helped me feel closer to God, and how I knew that it would bless the life of anyone who read it. She asked if she could borrow it, and I told her that she could keep it. :) I wrote my testimony in the front cover and gave it to her. It was a very sweet experience. I am grateful that I can be a help in her life.<br /><br />&nbsp;We went to the mission home to talk to Sister Clark for a little bit, which was really good. She told us when we were done, to go and find a miracle on Roosevelt, which is a street in our area. So I drove straight from the mission home to Roosevelt, and turned into an apartment complex that I have never been in before. I asked Sister Peacock which way she wanted to go, and off we went. So we started knocking doors. We first talked to a Persian man, who didn't speak much English, and gave him a Book of Mormon. At the next door we spoke with a woman from Afghanistan, who wasn't interested either. The third door we knocked on was on the second floor of a building, and this young woman opened the door. Her name is Arianna. <br /></div><div>We introduced ourselves, and asked if we could share a message with her about Jesus Christ, and she asked how long it would take. We told her that it didn't have to be long, and she let us in!!!! :D So we went inside, and we were able to teach her the Restoration. At the end of the lesson, I asked Arianna if she would follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized, and she said yes!!! We set the date of November 20th!! :) It was a miracle. Oh my goodness. So amazing. I am so grateful. <br /></div><div>We had a ward chili cook-off, which was awesome and fun. :) We saw some other people, and were able to teach some more lessons. :) <br /></div><div>Sister Peacock is so amazing. She is just picking things up so fast, and is such an amazing missionary, and she hasn't even been in the field for a week! She also has an enormous amount of faith, which is absolutely one of the reasons why we have been seeing so many miracles. I have so much that I can learn from her. I am so excited to see what happens. :) <br /></div><div>Yesterday our car decided it wanted to break the Word of Wisdom and started smoking. Something broke, and it was shooting oil all over the engine, which I now know is bad. I had continued driving, thinking when we got home we would check it out, even though I know virtually nothing about cars... So we were carless for about four hours, cause they brought us one of the the old mission cars that&nbsp; are no longer in use. It was sad, cause we were looking forward to walking for a day. But all is well, and we will not complain against our blessings. :) <br /></div><div>That's about it for today! I love you all! Today's thought comes from the book of John, "In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world." <br /><br /><img alt="https://www.mormonchannel.org/bc/content/mormon-channel/images/blog-post/Daily%20Quote/960x540/MCDQ-9.11.I%20Have%20Overcome%20the%20World.jpg" height="254" shrinktofit="true" src="https://www.mormonchannel.org/bc/content/mormon-channel/images/blog-post/Daily%20Quote/960x540/MCDQ-9.11.I%20Have%20Overcome%20the%20World.jpg" style="margin-right: 0px;" width="453" /><br /></div><div> Isn't it amazing that we have a Savior who has overcome the world for us? The world offers loneliness and despair, while our Savior offers us peace and joy. I'm so grateful for Him.<br /></div><div>I hope you have a great week! <br /></div><div>Love, Sister Wood :) <br /></div><div>1) Sister Peacock and I have the same first initial. :) </div><div>2) We found this little guy in our car.... I named him Trevor.</div><div>3) My new companion!!! :D </div></div></div><br /><fieldset class="mimeAttachmentHeader"><legend class="mimeAttachmentHeaderName">DSC09343.JPG</legend></fieldset><br /><br /><center><img class="moz-attached-image" overflowing="true" shrinktofit="true" src="imap://jackie%40lostjungles%2Ecom@imap.gmail.com:993/fetch%3EUID%3E/INBOX%3E30767?part=1.2&amp;type=image/jpeg&amp;filename=DSC09343.JPG" /></center><br /><fieldset class="mimeAttachmentHeader"><legend class="mimeAttachmentHeaderName">DSC09348.JPG</legend></fieldset><br /><br /><center><img class="moz-attached-image" overflowing="true" shrinktofit="true" src="imap://jackie%40lostjungles%2Ecom@imap.gmail.com:993/fetch%3EUID%3E/INBOX%3E30767?part=1.3&amp;type=image/jpeg&amp;filename=DSC09348.JPG" /></center><br /><fieldset class="mimeAttachmentHeader"><legend class="mimeAttachmentHeaderName">DSC09353.JPG</legend></fieldset><br /><br /><center><img class="moz-attached-image" overflowing="true" shrinktofit="true" src="imap://jackie%40lostjungles%2Ecom@imap.gmail.com:993/fetch%3EUID%3E/INBOX%3E30767?part=1.4&amp;type=image/jpeg&amp;filename=DSC09353.JPG" /></center>Jackie Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120568238258456280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288777963539232529.post-80514715359270597362016-10-12T04:11:00.000-07:002016-10-12T04:11:02.666-07:00This week has been great! :) Miracles are happening here in Irvine. :)<br /><div><br /></div><div>So Monday and Tuesday were pretty standard, so I won't bore you with those. (Meetings and things.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Wednesday I went on exchanges with Sister Graham! She is so awesome. She's been on her mission for about 4 months, and she just gets it. She is so solid, and I learned so much from her. We started off the day by going to a recent convert's house. We talked to her about going to the temple, and the blessings that come from attending. It was kind of cool, because there is a huge language barrier, and it's obvious that she didn't understand a lot of what we were saying. But the Spirit was there, and she commited to go to the temple! So that was awesome. :) We stopped by some LA's, and had a good time getting to know them. It was just such a phenomenal day, and it was so fun getting to know Sister Graham, and learn about her testimony. She's a great missionary.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Thursday we had MLC! It was so good. :) I love MLC, especially when they give constructive criticism about how we can be better as a mission. So good. We had dinner with the Relief Society President, then went on splits so that we could see Sister Romano and help the Korean Elders with English class. I love English class. :)&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Nothing big happened on Friday or Saturday... Oh wait, some Sisters down in San Clemente locked their keys in the trunk of their car at 7pm, and had no way of getting them out, so they called us, (apparently this has happened to Sister Dinning twice. :) ) So we went to the office and got a spare key and drove it down. When we got there, we tried to unlock the car, and we had the wrong keys! So we called the AP's, and they met us in Mission Viejo, and we got the right keys. Then we took the Sisters back to San Clemente, and got everything figured out. :) It was really funny. :)&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Sunday! Oh my goodness! We saw a HUGE miracle on Sunday. :) So we have ward correlation every Sunday at 9:30 with our Ward Mission Leader, at 10:15, all the ward missionaries come, then at 11 o'clock, we have to go to ward council. Church then starts at 12:30. So this past Sunday, we didn't have ward council, so we had roughly an hour before we needed to be back to the building. So we walked around the building for a minute, then I said, "Hey, we should go invite some people to church." Sister Dinning agreed, so we went. We didn't have &nbsp;a set place in mind, so we were just driving around. She pulled up by this one park, but there was literally no one there. So I was like, "We should go tracting." So we drove around some more, and wound up on this random street, somewhere in our area. We got out, and started knocking doors. About the fifth door in, we saw this lady in her backyard, behind a gate. Her dogs were super loud, so we couldn't really say anything, when she says, "Wait, for just a minute!" So we wait, and she comes out the front door to talk to us. We introduced ourselves, and I asked where she was from, becuase she had an accent. She's from Serbia, but she just moved here from Utah a few months ago. She has a three year old daughter. :) We talked for a minute, and she told us about her Mormon friends and how much she loved being around them. We asked if she would like to learn more about what they believe. She said, " I would love to. You all just have something about you. You are so happy, and so kind. Yes, I would absolutely love to learn." OH MY GOODNESS!!! IT WAS AMAZING! So we gave her a Book of Mormon, our number, the address of the church, and got her information. Her daughter is sick right now, but she asked if we would come back sometime next week. :D When we got back in the car, I asked Sister Dinning, "What if we hadn't gone tracting?" &nbsp;We thought about it for a minute, and said a prayer of gratitude that we had been able to be where Heavenly Father had needed us. It was incredible.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>That's about it! I love being out here, doing what I'm doing. It's the best thing in the whole world. This weeks thought comes from President Hinckley. :)</div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="Inline image 1" height="306" shrinktofit="true" src="imap://jackie%40lostjungles%2Ecom@imap.gmail.com:993/fetch%3EUID%3E/INBOX%3E30544?part=1.2&amp;filename=image.png" width="544" />&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #393939;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"He lives, the Eternal Son of the Ever Living Father. He lives, the Great Creator, the Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Savior of the New, the Wondrous Light in a dark and troubled world. He lives to bless us, to teach us, to heal us, to touch our troubled hearts, to give substance to our greatest dreams, to assure the immortality of our souls.” —Gordon B. Hinckley</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #393939;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #393939;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Enough said, I don't think there is much I could add to that quote. :) Isn't it amazing that we have access to such a being whenever we need him? He is always right by our side.&nbsp;</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #393939;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #393939;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I love you all! I hope you have a great week!&nbsp;</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #393939;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #393939;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Love, Sister Wood :)&nbsp;</span></span></div>Jackie Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120568238258456280noreply@blogger.com0